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Orchid Dottyback
Dottyback

Orchid Dottyback

Pseudochromis fridmani

A luminous magenta Red Sea dottyback that is the gentle exception in an otherwise pugnacious family — genuinely peaceful, even alongside timid firefish and dartfish. It is one of the best captive-bred reef fish: hardy, disease-resistant, and readily available tank-raised, so wild collection is unnecessary. It keeps to a cave when first added, then hovers in the open, and helps control small bristleworms.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
2.8"
Min tank
30 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Planktivore
Zone
Rockwork, Caves, Mid-water
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Orchid 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.

Maroon ClownfishMaroon Clownfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Springer's DottybackOrchid Dottyback and Springer's Dottyback are the same genus (Pseudochromis) and will fight — keep only one.Antennata LionfishAntennata Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orchid Dottyback.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Neon DottybackThe Neon Dottyback is semi-aggressive above all toward other dottybacks. The much milder Orchid Dottyback loses the cave it needs and gets bullied out of the rockwork.Domino DamselDomino Damsel (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Marine BettaMarine Betta has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orchid Dottyback.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orchid Dottyback.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orchid Dottyback.Zebra Dwarf LionfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orchid Dottyback.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orchid Dottyback.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orchid Dottyback.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orchid Dottyback.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orchid Dottyback.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Six-Line SoapfishSix-Line Soapfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orchid Dottyback.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Sailfin TangSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Powder Blue TangPowder Blue Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Convict TangConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Regal AngelfishRegal Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Achilles TangAchilles Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Naso TangNaso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Scopas TangScopas Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Fourline WrasseDottybacks are listed among the fish Pseudocheilinus wrasses pick on in smaller systems. The Orchid is the mildest dottyback, so it tends to be on the receiving end.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Blueface AngelfishBlueface Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Chevron TangChevron Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Mimic TangMimic Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Powder Brown TangPowder Brown Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Blue-Throat TriggerfishBlue-Throat Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Crosshatch TriggerfishCrosshatch Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Niger TriggerfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Threadfin ButterflyfishThreadfin Butterflyfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.Majestic AngelfishMajestic Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orchid Dottyback and may harass it.