ReefPicker
← Livestock checker
Diadem Dottyback
Dottyback

Diadem Dottyback

Pictichromis diadema

The diadem dottyback (also sold as purple-stripe or flashback dottyback) is a small, jewel-toned basslet from sheltered reefs in Malaysia, the Philippines and northern Borneo. At barely 6 cm it looks harmless, but it is genuinely one of the more aggressive dottybacks for its size and is best added last, once other territorial fish are already settled. It leaves corals and sessile invertebrates alone, but will happily pick off small ornamental shrimp, so treat cleanup-crew shrimp with caution. Captive-bred stock is a store staple and tends to ship and settle in better than wild-caught fish.

Temperament
Aggressive
Max size
2.4"
Min tank
30 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Rockwork, Caves, Bottom
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
Something look wrong? Report an error

Tankmates

How Diadem Dottyback gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Purple DottybackDiadem Dottyback and Purple Dottyback are the same genus (Pictichromis) and will fight — keep only one.Yellow Clown GobyDiadem Dottyback (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Clown Goby and may harass it.Green Clown GobyDiadem Dottyback (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Green Clown Goby and may harass it.Antennata LionfishAntennata Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Royal DottybackDiadem Dottyback and Royal Dottyback are the same genus (Pictichromis) and will fight — keep only one.Marine BettaMarine Betta has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Zebra Dwarf LionfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Fuzzy Dwarf LionfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.Six-Line SoapfishSix-Line Soapfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Diadem Dottyback.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Kole TangDiadem Dottyback and Kole Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Sixline WrasseDiadem Dottyback and Sixline Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Melanurus WrasseDiadem Dottyback and Melanurus Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Coral HawkfishDiadem Dottyback and Coral Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Springer's DottybackDiadem Dottyback and Springer's Dottyback both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Midas BlennyDiadem Dottyback and Midas Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Longnose HawkfishDiadem Dottyback and Longnose Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Potter's AngelfishDiadem Dottyback and Potter's Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Bicolor BlennyDiadem Dottyback and Bicolor Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Coris WrasseDiadem Dottyback and Red Coris Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Flame HawkfishDiadem Dottyback and Flame Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Saddleback ClownfishDiadem Dottyback and Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Cherub AngelfishDiadem Dottyback and Cherub Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Multicolor AngelfishDiadem Dottyback and Multicolor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Starry BlennyDiadem Dottyback and Starry Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Spotted MandarinDiadem Dottyback and Spotted Mandarin both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Rusty AngelfishDiadem Dottyback and Rusty Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Emperor AngelfishDiadem Dottyback and Emperor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Regal AngelfishDiadem Dottyback and Regal Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Fourline WrasseDiadem Dottyback and Fourline Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.