Dottyback Fish

Dottyback Fish Varieties

 

There are many different types of dottyback fish. These include the Sunrise Dottyback, Springeri Dottyback, Splendid Dottyback, Orchid Dottyback, Purple Dottyback, Indigo Dottyback, and Neon Dottyback, just to name a few. Each dottyback fish has its own brilliant color and specific color pattern that is sure to delight any fish enthusiast.

 

Dottyback Habitat and Feeding

 

Dottyback fish prefer a habitat that has a lot of places to hide, in crevices and caverns within the coral reef. Dottyback fish are mostly carnivorous, and prefer to dine on small crustaceans and zooplankton, though some may consume polychaetes and small fish. When not being fed artificially, they will spend time hunting the live rock for food, including bristleworms.

Temperament of the Dottyback

Dottyback fish are often well known for being a little more aggressive than your average reef fish. While they can live together if all are introduced to the tank at the same time, they can be highly territorial and prefer to be paired up with mildly aggressive tank mates. In some cases, a dedicated species tank is needed to keep them in captivity. Dottyback fish usually pose a threat to ornamental shrimp.

Tank Conditions Required

Size of these fish all depend on the type that they are, but generally dottyback fish range between 2"-3" in size. They prefer a variety of hiding places in their tank under lower lighting. Today's SPS tanks are undesirable aquariums for these fish due to the bright lights.

Enjoying Dottyback Fish

All varieties of dottyback fish can be an interesting and enjoyable addition to your home or office marine saltwater tank. Captive breeding programs in the United States have made this species a lot more attainable than they once were. You can expect to pay about $30 per dottyback fish, which is a big jump from the $100 per fish they once were when wild caught dottyback were the only types available for hobby purchase.