dottyback's friend?

thornbury · #1 12/12/2006, 06:24 AM

first fish is bicolor/ royal dottyback...

I plan to get one more and the last fish. What should be compatible with a dottyback esp in a my 18.5 gal tank (counting only the water = 14 gallons)??

thornbury · #2 12/12/2006, 08:08 AM

bump...

nmprisons · #3 12/12/2006, 08:59 AM

dottybacks can be really aggressive. i would be worried about any other fish in there.

skeeter-doc · #4 12/12/2006, 09:14 AM

yes, that can be one mean fish, especially in that small of a tank

perhaps something like an aggressive clown, tomato/cinnamin or a maroon maybe

thornbury · #5 12/12/2006, 08:00 PM

will he chase a flame hawkfish or mandarin? I'm strongly considering the hawkfish...

thornbury · #6 12/13/2006, 01:07 AM

bump..

_K_E_P_ · #7 12/13/2006, 01:46 AM

Mandarin will most likely get beaten up

rbp 4 135 · #8 12/13/2006, 02:04 AM

ya my orchid dottyback bites my fingers when im working in the tank. damsels would be able to hold their own, clowns could possibly be alright as well. another option would be a 6 line, they can have an attitude, although that could possibly lead to constant conflict.

rbp 4 135 · #9 12/13/2006, 02:04 AM

ya my orchid dottyback bites my fingers when im working in the tank. damsels would be able to hold their own, clowns could possibly be alright as well. another option would be a 6 line, they can have an attitude, although that could possibly lead to constant conflict. really it is dependant on your individual fish

abeard · #10 12/13/2006, 07:58 AM

Dont do a mandrin he will rip its fins off. Go with a maroon clown.

stonepilot · #11 12/13/2006, 08:44 AM

my 6line beats up my orchid dottyback

skeeter-doc · #12 12/13/2006, 08:50 AM

maybe a hawkfish, but it depends on how long you have had the dottyback in the tank by itself, ...

thornbury · #13 12/13/2006, 12:57 PM

^I've had it for a couple of days... I plan to get the next one at least in the next two-three weeks

rekn · #14 12/13/2006, 01:02 PM

any of the bigger hawks will eatthe dotty. maroons can get 4 inches so i wouldnt put it in an 18.

its hard to say, dotties are middle of the road really, either they beat up small fish or get eaten by larger

rooroo · #15 12/13/2006, 01:05 PM

I had a neon dottyback in my 65 with a maroon clown, bicolor angel and flame hawkfish. The bicolor and flame hawk were added after the dottyback. The flame hawk and angel defended themselves just fine. My dottyback has since passed and in a way I'm kind of glad because he limited what was able to be in there. No shrimp, no passive fish. But he was a cool fish as he'd swim in and out of the rocks and was very inquisitive.

thornbury · #16 12/13/2006, 01:10 PM

^How about flame hawkfish?

I want a fish that can stand up for itself but not one that will cause constant fight... hmm... dilemma

thornbury · #17 12/13/2006, 01:11 PM

^How about flame hawkfish?

I want a fish that can stand up for itself but not one that will cause constant fight... hmm... dilemma

If I change the question: what fish will the dottyback most likely ignore in my tank?

Hormigaquatica · #18 12/13/2006, 01:24 PM

I think a flame hawk would be alright- they arent usually aggressive, but can defend themselves pretty well. Plus, a flame hawk will likely be a lot bigger than your pseudo, so hopefully the bicolor will think twice about trying to mess with him (though they are gutsy little things). Shrimp will be pretty much out though- one or both of those fish will mess with them.

Tomato clown would be alright for a while, maybe a dwarf angel (C. argi or a similar species, though the tank size is pretty borderline for them). Damsels would be a good option too- colorful and certainly strong enough to defend themselves.

ACBlinky · #19 12/13/2006, 04:59 PM

I second damsels. They're hardy, feisty enough to stand up to the dottyback, small enough (not all species, but many) not to eat it, pretty, and fine in smaller tanks. Blue, yellow-tail, Talbot's, three-stripe, four-stripe and South Seas damsels are all fairly small and attractive fish.

IMO a maroon will get much too big for your tank, a dwarf angel will be stressed (even the smallest species still need lots of swimming/grazing room to be comfortable), and a hawk may fight with the pseudo or even try to eat it.

thornbury · #20 12/16/2006, 05:27 AM

Will a dwarf lion do fine?

thornbury · #21 12/16/2006, 07:19 PM

bump...

ACBlinky · #22 12/16/2006, 09:40 PM

In an 18g tank? I don't think it's a good idea. Not only will the lion outgrow the tank (even the smallest get 5" long or so and they're bulky fish), they're messy eaters that represent a big bioload for such a small volume of water. Not to mention that the dottyback will end up as lunch sooner or later...

thornbury · #23 12/16/2006, 09:49 PM

I saw one in my LFS I don't think my dottyback can fit its mouth

kodyboy · #24 12/17/2006, 07:17 PM

A dwarf lion would eventually slurp your dottyback.
A six line, flame hawk, damsel, clownfish or some other wrasse (probably not a fairy wrasse, but maybe a big solarensis could handle him), a niger trigger.
Maybe....royal DB's are evil.....
Definately NOT a royal gramma