firefish and orchid dottyback

[tripleup05]

I have asked if a firefish and a orchid dottyback can go together before, and the answer was generally yes but add the dottyback as one of the last fish. Well, right now I have had my firefish for about a month and its doing great, and my LFS finally got a orchid dottyback in. For some reason they have trouble getting them, so I'm tempted to go ahead and pick him up. But I have a few questions... I always assumed I would have another fish in there along with the firefish before putting the more aggresive dottback in, but what do yall think about the dottyback going in without having another fish? My thought was that with two other fish he wouldnt just pester one or the other. And my other question is this...I plan on getting a Red Parrot Fairy Wrasse. If I add the wrasse after the dottback, this is going to make things alot worse than if the wrasse was added at the same time or before the dottyback, correct? Basically, I'm just wondering if the dottyback will be too aggresive towards the firefish, and then later towards the wrasse when I get it. Thanks for any input!

 

[wax32]

Aggression toward the firefish isn't likely to change whether there are other fish in there or not. So as far as that goes you can add the dottyback but, the dottyback will probably be aggressive to the firefish even though he is added after. The wrasse will likely get more aggression being added after the dottyback.
That being said, my purple dottyback (which is a little more aggressive than the orchid) was added last to my tank. He is pretty aggressive to anything that comes near him including a couple of damsels. I had to move my firefish to my refugium because the blue devil damsel and dottyback were tag-teaming him.

 

[wax32]

BTW, my dottyback chases my Debelius' fairy wrasse a little, but the wrasse has lightning reflexes and so far has avoided damage. The damsels ignore the wrasse altogether.

 

[tripleup05]

Hmmm...I see what you are saying. That is kinda what I figured. So if you were in my posistion, would you go ahead and get him?

 

[wax32]

If you like him enough that you might have to get rid of the firefish, then yeah. If you are absolutely attached to the firefish, no.
Firefish get beat up by almost any other fish. They are pretty hardy and recover quickly from a fight but if the aggressive fish CONSTANTLY bothers the firefish it can be a bit much.

 

[tree]

I have an orchid dottyback. It is the most aggressive fish in the tank. Except when it gets too close to the anemone and the clownfish come charging out

I added a 6 line wrasse about 3 months after the dottyback. The wrasse was harrassed for about 2 days then the dottyback tired of that game. Occasionally the wrasse still gets chased but it can beat the dottyback in speed anyday

I don't have a firefish so can't really say how they will get along

 

[slade1274]

my bicolor is a royal pain.... he has been with a fairly good size yellow tang and heni for a few weeks. I added a pygmy angel, false perc, and small neon goby last week and the dotty hammered the angel and picked on the clown. Put him in the penalty box (fuge) and all is well with the rest of the group. Definatly add it last if you must have one!!! and do so at your own risk. The angel is recovering well, but still only has 1/2 of his tail.

 

[cherizle]

i have a purple pseudochromis (more aggressive i think than the orchid) & i attempted to add a firefish. the pseudo would NOT leave the firefish alone it was horrible he kept attacking him. i had to choose so i kept the firefish b/c the pseudo had an attitude with my inverts anyway. it totally sucks to break down your tank to get a fish out-i learned the hard way. anyways good luck just thought i'd share.