Adding a dottyback?

[ACBlinky]

I'm upgrading my nano to a 30g, and I'd like to know if I can add a dottyback to the mix - I've heard that they can be nasty little fish and I don't want to endanger my current population, so I thought it would be best to ask first!

My current population includes:
Lubbock's fairy wrasse
yellow clown goby
orange spot shrimp goby
skunk cleaner shrimp
pistol shrimp
porcelain crab
2 scarlet hermits
4 tiny bluelegs
5 astraes, a trochus, a turbo and a nerite snail

I've looked up the species, and as far as I can tell the fish I'm looking at is Pseudochromis aldabraensis.
My plan is to set up the new tank, allow the population to establish their territories and get used to things, then introduce the dottyback. Will it work, or am I just asking for trouble?

[blface]

I had a neon dotty in my nano like your thinking of getting. He ate my fire shrimp & cleaner like it was all you can eat shrimp night at Red Lobster. I switched to an orchid dotty & he has been a model citizen.

[billpa]

Dottybacks are pretty beligerant when it comes to crustaceans and gobies. But I have heard the orchid dottybacks are the least aggressive of the genus. I have not had any experience except with the diadem dottyback...a bully...killed some pep shrimps and harassed my yellow watchman goby. It wasnt until the introduction of larger fish that the dottyback backed off and is actually more reclusive now.

If you are moving to a larger tank, I would definitely allow the current fish to establish their territories and only after that, would I add the orchid dottyback. But be forewarned. You have two gobies, two shrimp, and a wrasse...all of which can end up being the dottybacks punching bag Make sure you create a slew of hiding spots in your new tank so your current fish have some places to take refuge in.

Sounds like you have a plan. Make sure you have a plan if things go sour. Good luck!

billpa

[argi]

I will have to agree with the previous posters..the neon dottybacks can be mean little guys. Mine never ate any shrimp or inverts, but they were the bullies of the tank. I at first kept two in a 135, but one went over the overflow and tried to get back up to the main tank through the return pump. Unfortunately the return pump won. At that point it became the remaining neon dottybacks tank. Anything new added to the tank had to go through him. I eventually traded him in to the LFS to have a little more peace in the tank.

I would second the orchid dottyback for the tank. Mine have always been extremely peaceful towards everyone else.

HTH,

Keith

[ACBlinky]

Thanks so much for the replies, sounds like I'll have to rethink things - they're gorgeous little fish but I really care for my fish/inverts and wouldn't want to introduce something that will wreak havoc in the tank.

[billpa]

Im not saying you cant add an orchid dottyback. Like I said before, my only experience has been with the diadem dottyback which is one of the most aggressive dottybacks. I would see what others have said about their orchid dottybacks. From what I have seen on this thread so far looks promising.

billpa

[ACBlinky]

Sorry, should have qualified that - I'm looking at neons specifically, we have a tank-raised specimen at work that I've fallen love with. If a neon dottyback isn't a good idea I may look at getting an orchid or another small fish, or I may just leave things as they are for now

[chip721]

I have an Orchid Dottyback (wild caught) in a 54g. The other occupants are a Tomato Clown and 2 BTA's, a Yellow Tail Damsel, a Coral Beauty, and a Skunk Cleaner shrimp. I also have an Orchid Dottyback (tank raised) in a 29g. Tank mates are 2 Maroon clowns with a BTA, and another Yellow Tail Damsel. I have't had any problems with the dottybacks at all. Nor the "dreaded" damsel's either. The only difference I noticed was the wild caught dottyback had a prettier color when I first got them. Now I can't tell any difference. I was also seeing lots of bristle worms before introducing the dottybacks. I'm sure they're sitll there, but I don't see them anymore. Not sure if that's a result of the dottybacks or not. They're beautiful fish. Good luck.

[BigShade]

i have a wild caught orchid (fridmani).. theres a nice picture in my gallery of its pretty fins.. i'd recommend adding it as the last fish to the tank.. its frisky, but not downright mean.. my blenny will scare him away, but he has no problem stalking my firefish or green chromis