neon dottyback

Poseidon84 · Jan 8, 2018

hey everyone, its been awhile, so i have the opportunity to purchase a neon dottyback at 60%off from my lfs due to an over-shipment. i have read alot about them and they seem like huge ******s, but i have alot of brisltle worms and they seem like a good population control tool. i have a lawnmower blenny 5", yellow tang 5" and a maroon clown 3" , as well as 3 short neck clams a blue oyster and 2 peppermint shrimp, a coral banded shrimp and 2 large emerald crabs as well as various hermits and snails. in a 120 gal. do you think i will be ok with one or even 2?

nautical_nathaniel · Jan 8, 2018

Only one dottyback and as long as you don't add any similarly shaped and sized fish after it you should be fine. It will work on your birstleworm issue but it won't completely eradicate them. That's okay though since a small amount of bristleworms can be good for your tank. How big is your tank? The more space you have with these fish, the better.

I recently rehomed mine but I would sometimes catch him and put him in a social acclimation box while a new fish adjusted to the tank. The dottyback would still be mean to the new fish after I let him loose, but it was much less severe than it would have been if I just released the new fish into the tank without catching the dottyback first. The bottle trap works every time with these fish since they are so curious about anything new in the tank and really easy to entice with food.

Poseidon84 · Jan 8, 2018

nautical_nathaniel said:
Only one dottyback and as long as you don't add any similarly shaped and sized fish after it you should be fine. It will work on your birstleworm issue but it won't completely eradicate them. That's okay though since a small amount of bristleworms can be good for your tank. How big is your tank? The more space you have with these fish, the better.

I recently rehomed mine but I would sometimes catch him and put him in a social acclimation box while a new fish adjusted to the tank. The dottyback would still be mean to the new fish after I let him loose, but it was much less severe than it would have been if I just released the new fish into the tank without catching the dottyback first. The bottle trap works every time with these fish since they are so curious about anything new in the tank and really easy to entice with food.

my tank is 120g

Bouncingsoul39 · Jan 8, 2018

Sounds fine for your current mix of fish, none of which are too docile. I wouldn't expect much if any actual bristle worm control though.

shred5 · Jan 8, 2018

Do not do it. They are impossible to remove. Mine was the meanest fish I have ever owned in 35+ years saltwater.

nautical_nathaniel · Jan 8, 2018

Bouncingsoul39 said:
Sounds fine for your current mix of fish, none of which are too docile. I wouldn't expect much if any actual bristle worm control though.

Mine ate smaller ones like candy haha between him and the melanurus wrasse I had at the time, all of my bristleworms are pretty much gone. Only seen one after months of checking for them at night.

Poseidon84 · Jan 8, 2018

shred5 said:
Do not do it. They are impossible to remove. Mine was the meanest fish I have ever owned in 35+ years saltwater.

even damsels? haha

shred5 · Jan 9, 2018

Poseidon84 said:
even damsels? haha

I would say so... Damsels defend a area where ND hunts.. They fit into any small crevice and ambush.. He killed all my firefish, jaw fish and a bunch of wrasses.. Ended up ripping the whole tank down to get him out. Only fish that comes close was my powder brown tang. Powder brown was relentless towards any new fish and within minutes most fish were laying on their sides on the bottom.