Multiple Dottybacks?

Chasmodes

Chasmodes

Member
I was at my LFS the other day. This particular one has always been good with their SWF. I realize that their tanks are only temporary homes, but I saw two different species of pseudochromids living peacefully together. Granted, I only watched them for 10 minutes, but they seemed to totally ignore each other. Would this be possible in a large tank as well? Anyone keep more than one different species? They are so colorful and also so interesting…
 
Chasmodes

Chasmodes

Member
Yeah, sorry, I meant to post that. One was P. porphyreus (purple) and the other was P. aldabraensis (neon). They completely ignored each other and none were hiding or very close to hiding places --- out in the open. I was kind of amazed to see that. Had I been ready to buy then I may have purchased both of them on the spot. Maybe they were the Oscar and Felix "Odd Couple" of the Pseudochromis family!!! :thinking:
 
promisetbg

promisetbg

Active Member
ORA has a hybrid dottyback so it must be possible to place some together...it's just a question of individual fish and sexual difference.
 
blessedyo

blessedyo

Member
Multiple dotty backs...
When I purchased the live rock, to my surprise, a black and white stripped dotty back was hiding in side. I want more of them, however I was told that I would only be able to do so if they were all added together...But I had to wait until my water cycled... so I didn't get anymore...
I also have heard that if I get a different one (other than the black and white stripped), the purple dotty backs, that this would be ok, and they would ultimately ignore each other, and not see each other as a threat.
I have enough rocks for them to hide, and plan on adding more live rocks.
Is this true? What are my options?
 
alyssia

alyssia

Active Member
Is a dottyback another name for a pseudochromis? If so, I'm assuming the purple dottyback is the purple/hot pink pseudochromis?
 
dogstar

dogstar

Active Member
All Dottybacks are in the taxonomy family Pseudochromidae, one of the genus of the family is Pseudochromis and one of the species of that genus is the P. porhyreus. Some common names for it is strawberry, purple, magenta, and others also. Common names can get confusing and some different species can sometimes have the same or simular common names. Best to use scientific names when possible. Just as blennius did.
 
dogstar

dogstar

Active Member
blessedyo, hi, welcome to the boards
I think what you were told about the Black and White Stripe Dottyback, P. sankeyi, aka Sanky's Dottyback is correct. You dont say how big your tank is but enough " territory for each " would be the key to adding more. Very hardy fish as is most all Dotties.
 
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