Fish stocking and aggression questions.

Andreas' Reef · Jan 31, 2023

If added last, would a pair of orchid dottybacks work with a pair of clowns, a springeri damselfish, a pistol/ywg, and a fire goby?

nereefpat · Feb 1, 2023

Firefish, I assume. Might get picked on.

What size tank?

Phil Steel · Feb 1, 2023

Orchid dottybacks are quite aggressive regardless of when they are added - you might wish to consider a royal gramma or black cap basslet as alternatives.

Just my two cents.

408Dartfish · Feb 1, 2023

How big is the tank? I’ve never had a pair of orchids but my one captive bred orchid is pretty docile in my 60g.

Andreas' Reef · Feb 1, 2023

I might go with royal gramma instead, but is there a way to pair royal grammas

Andreas' Reef · Feb 1, 2023

408Dartfish said:
How big is the tank? I’ve never had a pair of orchids but my one captive bred orchid is pretty docile in my 60g.

32 gal

Zionas · Feb 1, 2023

Do Grammas pair? Also wanna know. Thx.

Jay Hemdal · Feb 1, 2023

Zionas said:
Do Grammas pair? Also wanna know. Thx.

I've always had trouble with them - they live in harems on the reef, but they always fight when I put them together. Perhaps it's a size thing - I never tried mixing a large and smaller ones together. There must be a way around this, else we wouldn't have any captive breeding of these.....

Jay

Nemo&Friends · Feb 1, 2023

Main concern is firefish, the others should be able to stand on their own.

Zionas · Feb 1, 2023

Good to know. Looks like multiples are out of the question for me. Unrelated but do you have any idea on the lifespans of Dottybacks?

Andreas' Reef · Feb 1, 2023

Zionas said:
Good to know. Looks like multiples are out of the question for me. Unrelated but do you have any idea on the lifespans of Dottybacks?

5-7 years. Sometimes up to 10

Andreas' Reef · Feb 1, 2023

Nemo&Friends said:
Main concern is firefish, the others should be able to stand on their own.

Fire fish i Have Is actually very Outgoing and established. He is even defensive sometimes. Maybe it would work.

Andreas' Reef · Feb 1, 2023

Personally I think it would work. The fire fish just stays by the rock and nothing bullies or chases it at all.

Zionas · Feb 1, 2023

Is this from actual experience? Which species have you kept and which ones made it to 10? Thanks.

Andreas' Reef · Feb 1, 2023

Zionas said:
Is this from actual experience? Which species have you kept and which ones made it to 10? Thanks.

its commonly said that they live 5-7 years but my uncle had one that lived to 10.

Zionas · Feb 1, 2023

Was it captive bred? Was it an Orchid or another species? By the way I’m from Vancouver. ^^

Andreas' Reef · Feb 1, 2023

Zionas said:
Was it captive bred? Was it an Orchid or another species? By the way I’m from Vancouver. ^^

It was a captive bred orchid. My grandfather is from Vancouver! He joined the military and moved here in southeastern Ontario at retirment.

Zionas · Feb 1, 2023

I see. That’s nice to know!

So I’m sure you’ve been around the West Coast accent a lot haha. ^^ we do talk a bit differently but all good.

Andreas' Reef · Feb 1, 2023

Zionas said:
I see. That’s nice to know! So I’m sure you’ve been around the West Coast accent a lot haha. ^^ we do talk a bit differently but all good.

The West Coast is quite different. When I visited it was quite warm. When my grandfather came he couldn’t stand the cold. It was actually -21 c today where I am last I checked.