How Long Is Normal For Dottyback To Hide Out?

Lester Verano · May 4, 2023

My pseudochromis orchid dotty back has been missing for a day or so. She shares the tank with only one clown, a Blue eye kole tang, and a large snail. The other fish get along good with her, and my parameters are pristine. Is it normal for this fish to just up and decide to disappear into the rock work for a while? If this is normal, how long do they do this for? Tank is 35 gallon covered. She usually is out in the display with the other fish swimming around most of the day.

alysak6075 · May 4, 2023

my orchid has been hiding for 3 years now. Ill let you know when it comes out

Dave1993 · May 4, 2023

tang police gonna be here soon

alysak6075 · May 4, 2023

Dave1993 said:
tang police gonna be here soon

why?

Dave1993 · May 4, 2023

alysak6075 said:
why?

cause he has a tang in a 35 gallon tank lol

alysak6075 · May 4, 2023

Dave1993 said:
cause he has a tang in a 35 gallon tank lol

right.... reading comprehension isn't my strong suit

Lester Verano · May 4, 2023

Dave1993 said:
tang police gonna be here soon

Hey I rescued that tang from a horribly small 14 gallon tank... Boy I'll bet she is much happier now that I've upgraded from a 14 to a 35 gallon tank.

Dave1993 · May 4, 2023

Lester Verano said:
Hey I rescued that tang from a horribly small 14 gallon tank... Boy I'll bet she is much happier now that I've upgraded from a 14 to a 35 gallon tank.

D/W i'm guilty 2

Lester Verano · May 4, 2023

Dave1993 said:
D/W i'm guilty 2

If she was unhappy I'd Never know it, since she'd be too busy eating algae off my rocks all day long. colors are good, always in the display. has nice tank mates. can't be wrong man.

Lester Verano · May 4, 2023

BTW she is alive and well. just wants to be in a cave I think she likes and want to call her little hobbit hole. trick is turn off the pumps, that's when everyone knows it's time to eat.

Lester Verano · May 9, 2023

On a turn of a dime, now dotty is missing again. this time it was for longer, so if you see my last post was a Thursday. It's not Tuesday, and I have been lifting rocks in my tank, and the dotty is nowhere. I have a very large snail, an I'm pretty sure it had something to do with it. maybe the snail cornered her while sleeping and devoured. had to be it. I don't think I'll ever see the dottybavk again. it'd be a small miracle if that fish was hiding somewhere else this entire time. especially after I've been moving rock around like I have.

homer1475 · May 9, 2023

As nail not only would not, it simply cannot eat a healthy living fish. It simply does not have the ability to attack a fish.

Lester Verano · May 9, 2023

homer1475 said:
As nail not only would not, it simply cannot eat a healthy living fish. It simply does not have the ability to attack a fish.

I agree. Is there a chance stuck in the rocks? Also, the behavior changed from constantly in display for 2 months, to a recluse, a day or so since this total disappearance. I Gotta wonder if just got ill and died..., Do these fish hibernate? all the while my kole tang and clown thrive on, and so do my corals.