Do’s and Don’ts of Dottybacks in the Tropical Saltwater Aquarium

Pseudochromis, a.k.a. dottybacks, make some of the best saltwater aquarium fishes for the novice marine aquarist, but they are not without some pitfalls. Small, hardy and shockingly beautiful, dottybacks can also be little terrors if they are placed with the wrong tankmates. They are also known for losing their bold coloration and committing suicide by leaping from the tank. By adhering to the following “do’s and don’ts” of dottybacks, the novice aquarist can expect success with these wonderful little fishes.

• Keep only one dottyback per tank.

• Cover any tank which houses a dottyback with eggcrate.

• Make sure the aquarium has plenty of quality live rock with lots of hiding spots.

• Plan on having the dottyback be the smallest fish in the tank.

• If the dottyback is not the smallest fish in the tank, make sure the tankmates are semi-aggressive.

• Add the dottyback near (or at) the end of your stocking order.

• Use a specimen cup to hold the dottyback in the aquarium for a couple days upon introduction.

• Buy tank-bred dottybacks, as they acclimate better and are hardier.

• Feed a well-balanced diet of mostly high quality frozen, flake and freeze dried foods designed for carnivores.

• Periodically offer dottbacks small chunks of fresh, meaty table seafood (e.g., shrimp, clams, etc.)

• Periodically offer an herbivorous food to your dottyback.

• Maintain high water quality with robust filtration.

• Maintain high and stable specific gravity (salinity) in the 1.023 – 1.025 range.

• Keep the pH stable and high (8.1 or higher).

• Maintain a stable temperature with less than two-degree daily fluctuation.

Finally, if you're going to get a dottyback, consider the following, relatively peaceful dottybacks. These are my personal favorites for the beginning aquarist: the striped Pseudochromis (Pseudochromis sankeyi), the springeri Pseudochromis (Pseudochromis springeri), the bluelined dottyback (Pseudochromis cyanotaenia), or the orchid dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani). In addition, there are some beautiful hybrids such as the so-called indigo dottyback (Pseudochromidae fridmani x Pseudochromidae sankeyi).

Comments

[Ret]

Hi, Bridgett! As you already know, I suspect, a saltwater tank can provide enjoyment and foster a sense of responsibility in anyone, and I applaud your enthusiasm for introducing a special needs child to the wonderful world of marine aquaria. There are many, many excellent books you might consider reading. For example, Bob Fenner's The Conscientious Marine Aquarist is an excellent introduction to the hobby. I have a book coming out in September called The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Saltwater Aquarium, which may also be helpful. I would also encourage you to visit the Saltwaterfish.com forums, where there is plenty of free advice from expert aquarists. If you have specific questions, please come back here to ask them, and good luck!

[bridgett lindsey]

i have a special needs child that wants a salt water tank i would like directions on how to get it set up and started thanks so much

bridgett