Dottyback Experience??
- Thread starter jman9331
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TinpanVA
Active Member
I have a neon dotty back in my 29, the 6 line picks on it most of the time, but he shows no signs of stress. Been in tank over a year and very healthy. If I didn't know better, I think they are playing more than fighting.
Breakthecycle2
2500 Club Member
Neon dottybacks are nasty too. I'm surprised they get along. Look for an Indigo, Friedmani or Sprigeri.
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jman9331
Active Member
i was looking at a bicolor one ill have to check out those ones.
SeahorseKeeper
Where's the mysis?
I had a bicolor dottyback and it was nasty. It would bully any new additions. It also would kill shrimp.
Breakthecycle2
2500 Club Member
The three I listed are the most docile.
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jman9331
Active Member
Oh wow, perhaps I should just go with a royal grama basslet at least I get the same colors.
ritter6788
Coral Fraud Private Eye
I have an orchid Dottyback. Seems very chill and docile. It's the first one I've had though.
huskerreefatl
Community Member
I have a royal dottyback, couple clowns, 6 line, and a yellow tang. The clowns and tang get along fine with the db but the 6 line will chase him occasionally but there doesn't seem to be any stress. Most of the time they just swim by each other without incident. The db will chase my peppermint shrimp on occasion but they seem to be fine as well. I have them in a 75. The db has been going into my powerhead at night, which worries me. My main two phs turn off at night and come on at 9 am. He seems to know the schedule so far but if he oversleeps, it could be trouble. I lost a strawberry basslet that way..... In the same ph.
I think with dottybacks, its going to kind depend on the fish. I have wanted one for a long time but it seems like such a coin toss for if it will be a bully or a well behaved fish.
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
The more peaceful species, such as fridmani, elongatus, and springeri will likely get beat up by the sixline. The more aggressive ones will likely fight with your sixline.
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jman9331
Active Member
wow maybe I'll just stick with getting a royal grama basslet
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
That may not work either as sixlines, once established, do not care for other fish that spend a lot of time in the rockwork, and he will chase the gramma away.
AdamNC
Lawnmower Blenny says nom nom
Had a Neon Dottyback that was a complete terror and went back to the LFS. IMO he was more aggressive then my Maroon Clown. But then again I had one about 8 years ago that was no issues.
My sunrise dotty is the whimp of my tank. Every other fish pick on it, even my mandarin. I think that most people are scared off by the horror stories and don't weight in the success stories of dottybacks. My thoughts are as long as the dottyback is one of the last fish to be added to the tank then they are fine.
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jman9331
Active Member
what about being bullied by a wrasse?
shornik
Well-Known Member
+1 for the orchid dottyback. Mine can holds its own if it has too but mostly spends the day going from one cave to another. So as long as there are enough caves for hiding i'd say it should be fine.
