Royal Gramma or Purple Dottyback?

[reef tank 2.0]

I have an 80g cube (32" long)
currently I have 2 clowns, 2 Banggais, and one blenny
I want to add some more fish to a mixed reef tank (no corals yet, will start soon)

I am considering either a purple Dottyback or a Royal Gramma.

In my tank, would one be better than the other?
anyone have any bad experiences with these guys?
I'd like to add more fish beyond one of these guys, but figured this would be next on the list

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Dottybacks can be extremely aggressive. With that being said, I would say that a royal gramma would be a better option.

 

[moretor1]

Gramma

Dottyback will terrorize anything it can

 

[danenelsen]

There is a chance that either of them could be aggressive. I’ve owned both, and the Dottyback was less aggressive than the Gramma, but depending on the fish, either could show signs of aggression.

 

[reef tank 2.0]

I really need to get some colorful swimmers. my current fish don't move to much

 

[Jedi Knghit]

The royal gramma may not be much of a movers either. Mine hangs in, or near its cave 95% of the time. It ventures out during daylight before the lights come on.

 

[royaleFork]

I really like my dottyback, even if it's a bit aggressive. There are enough fish in the tank that the aggression is well spread out and the bigger fish can keep in it check.

Never owned a Gramma, but have 3 chalk bass and they are only aggressive in defense.

For color, maybe a dwarf angel of some type as they swim all day and help with algae control. Also, a lot of color comes from corals, so you may get some of what you are looking for there.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

I've had one royal gramma, for about ten years now. Sweet fish. Visible a lot, and shows its displeasure with an open mouth display, and that quite rarely. When it eventually dies, I'll likely get another (I like these kind of fish, the ones I never want to not have).

Keep in mind that if you decide to get a dottyback, add it after any other fish that might be a target of territoriality. This holds for any fish addition, really, but especially the potentially nasty ones, and especially the nasty ones that will be pretty hard to net out.

 

[OrionN]

Purple dottyback, Pictichromis porphyrea, is a very aggressive fish. You should avoid these. However, you should consider getting the Orchid dottyback, Pseudochromis fridmani, which is originally from the Red Sea and now mostly captive bred. This is a beautiful docile fish that you can keep a pair in your tank.

 

[crazyfishmom]

I had a royal gramma and orchid dottyback together in the same tank. The dottyback was a much more active swimmer, the royal gramma just kept to himself. Both were great.

 

[Zionas]

Did the two show any aggression towards each other?

 

[crazyfishmom]

Did the two show any aggression towards each other?

Not once. I got them both small and put them in at the same time. They did great together.

 

[Zionas]

That’s cool. How long did you have them for and did they die from old age?

 

[Doctorgori]

The royal gramma may not be much of a movers either. Mine hangs in, or near its cave 95% of the time. It ventures out during daylight before the lights come on.

I’ve had them behave both ways; I currently own 2 or three, I see two act as a pair and hover in the open, others along with my black cap always hide..

Never owned a Gramma, but have 3 chalk bass and they are only aggressive in defense.

I also have two chalk bass, had three but these form highly visible trios … seems the more the merrier here

However, you should consider getting the Orchid dottyback, Pseudochromis fridmani,

I have one of these also, it has a very different aggression profile from the purple…very

 

[crazyfishmom]

That’s cool. How long did you have them for and did they die from old age?

I have a 210 gallon tank with lots of rock work (they were in a 55 gallon before) and I caught a glimpse of the orchid dottyback yesterday. I haven’t seen either the dottyback or the royal gramma for about two weeks so I wasn’t sure they were still with us. Now I think there’s a shot they’re both somewhere still in there!

 

[ytvanguy]

I have an 80g cube (32" long)
currently I have 2 clowns, 2 Banggais, and one blenny
I want to add some more fish to a mixed reef tank (no corals yet, will start soon)

I am considering either a purple Dottyback or a Royal Gramma.

In my tank, would one be better than the other?
anyone have any bad experiences with these guys?
I'd like to add more fish beyond one of these guys, but figured this would be next on the list

I have a 32 gallon and have 2 clowns, sharknose goby, royal gramma, orchid dottyback & helfrichi firefish. They all get along fine. The royal only chases the dottyback when it's too close to his cave, otherwise they both swim openly. The royal will act all tough by opening his mouth wide, but it's just an act, he's harmless and very funny to watch him find spots to lay in rockwork. The 2 clowns do tend to keep him in check. I do have to mention I do feed twice a day so they won't be aggressive towards each. I do also have a lot of caves, arches and rockwork for each to claim their own which helps as well.

 

[moretor1]

i will say my orchid dottyback was a heat seeking missile for my YWG and tried to swallow him whole more than once

Not even a territorial thing, it would wedge itself into the gobies cave trying to murder it