More evidence to avoid dottybacks in a community reef

[Skibum]

I'm sure this has been posted before, this is just to reiterate what aggressive little jerks these fish can be.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

There is a reason my only fish is a bicolor dottyback. I love their color but they are far too mean to be with other fish imo.

 

[jttaillon]

I had a dottyback in a mixed reef years ago and it was one of my favorite fish’s and got along fine with everyone in the tank... but any fish I tried to add after the dottyback was doomed. MUST BE THE LAST FISH ADDED!! I haven’t gotten one since for that reason. I’m not done stocking my new tank.

 

[Reef Jeff]

Great video! Thanks for posting it.

 

[Krzydmnd]

What are the little yellow guys he's eating?

 

[mort]

I've read about that but not seen the video before so thanks.

I'm a massive dottyback fan so I will just say that there are many dotties which aren't nasty troublemakers, like springers, fridmani, sankeyi to name a few, and even some of slightly more aggressive species are no where as bad as the tangs everyone seems to love.

I will say that ironically we got the dottyback in the video as a box filler on an import once and it was probably the most timid dotty I have ever kept.

 

[AdamNC]

I believe Dottybacks are all individuals. I had a Neon Dottyback years back that was very good in a community tank. But then just 2 years ago I had one that was a holy terror killing every new fish I added. It’s too bad because it’s my favorite colored Dottyback.

 

[Mikedawg]

+ 1 Neons are pretty tough on other fish. Orchids in my experience are much better in a community tank and when "matched" with a Royal Gramma and certain fairy wrasses provide a great color spectrum as well as peace.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Cool video. I've never had a dottyback, so no personal experience, but this is definitely in keeping with their reputation

 

[Skibum]

There are exceptions, (fridmani, springer, sankeyi). However, those are the exceptions, every other one while (pretty) appear to be terrors. It says something when you can put a 2 inch dottyback with triggers and eels and expect it to be okay ;-). The real problem with dotty's is that they are pretty, but have an attitude that outstrips their size.

 

[Skibum]

What are the little yellow guys he's eating?

Looks like some kind of Damsel.

 

[S-t-r-e-t-c-h]

I still want a pair of P. Steenei... :*(

 

[Skibum]

I still want a pair of P. Steenei... :*(

Apparently those are model dottybacks, and excellent with firefish, gobies, ornamental shrimp etc. ;-)

 

[vic5hands]

Keep away the fish is a disaster

 

[fish farmer]

In my first reef, a 38 gallon. I had a single clown and a mandarin which actually did really well on frozen foods. I wanted one more fish. I put a purple dotty in there. For whatever reason it hated the mandarin and would keep him from feeding near the bottom. I fished the dotty out of there soon after.

 

[aquatony]

I have two clowns, wheeler goby, purple dottyback. The dotty was added last but was harassing my wheeler goby for awhile. Pushing him in their shrimp burrow. Now after a couple weeks they all live in harmony in my mixed 40g cube

 

[SMB]

The mouth and teeth say it all. I suppose the Dottybacks with more "delicate" mouths may be OK but if they are equipped like this P.moorei they will be nothing but trouble for smaller tank mates and shrimp.

 

[dsh92056]

Yes add them last. I have a neon dottyback gets along with all tank mates but if I add a new fish forget about it.

 

[Skibum]

The mouth and teeth say it all. I suppose the Dottybacks with more "delicate" mouths may be OK but if they are equipped like this P.moorei they will be nothing but trouble for smaller tank mates and shrimp.

Haha, I don't think it matters which order you add this fish.

 

[hybridazn]

Had a springeri dottyback for years, never had too much of an issue with him unless I added a similarly sized fish. He would chase around a bit but then would calm down. Of course this was in a 180 gallon so the larger tank size might have had a factor with this.