ReefPicker
← Livestock checker
Purple Dottyback
Dottyback

Purple Dottyback

Pictichromis porphyrea

A uniform, electric-magenta dottyback — the classic "strawberry" — small, hardy, and inexpensive, but the feistiest of the three dottybacks in this batch. Despite its 6 cm size it is territorial and will bully fire gobies, dartfish, grammas, and other small passive fish that share its niche, so it belongs with tankmates that can hold their own. It is coral- and CUC-safe but will eat ornamental shrimp. Note the accepted scientific name is now Pictichromis porphyrea.

Temperament
Aggressive
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.
Something look wrong? Report an error

Tankmates

How Purple 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.

Yellow Clown GobyPurple Dottyback (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Clown Goby and may harass it.Green Clown GobyPurple Dottyback (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Green Clown Goby and may harass it.Dispar AnthiasDottybacks are named in dispar anthias care guidance as tankmates to avoid because they harass small fish. Expect the anthias to hug the rockwork instead of hovering in the open where it feeds.Sunburst AnthiasDottybacks are specifically listed among the fish that intimidate sunburst anthias. A purple dottyback claims the caves and ledges the anthias needs, so the anthias hides and stops feeding.Antennata LionfishAntennata Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Dottyback.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Dottyback.Scissortail DartfishPurple dottybacks are aggressive toward small timid fish and specifically harass dartfish and firefish; documented cases include biting fins off firefish, and a peaceful dartfish fares no better.Neon DottybackTwo Pseudochromis competing for the same caves. Both are documented as territorial and best housed singly.Royal DottybackPurple Dottyback and Royal Dottyback are the same genus (Pictichromis) and will fight — keep only one.Copperband ButterflyfishThe Copperband is a delicate, deliberate feeder easily bullied into not eating; an aggressive, territorial Purple Dottyback is exactly the kind of dominant tankmate care sheets warn to avoid.Zebra DartfishAggressive dottybacks single out small peaceful dartfish and gobies; the zebra dartfish is harassed and prevented from feeding.Marine BettaMarine Betta has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Dottyback.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Dottyback.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Dottyback.Zebra Dwarf LionfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Dottyback.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Dottyback.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Dottyback.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Dottyback.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Dottyback.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Dottyback.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Kole TangPurple Dottyback and Kole Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Sixline WrassePurple Dottyback and Sixline Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Melanurus WrassePurple Dottyback and Melanurus Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Royal GrammaThe Purple (or Strawberry) Dottyback, Pictichromis porphyrea, turns territorial toward grammas and other small, passive cave fish — same hiding places, similar colours.Coral HawkfishPurple Dottyback and Coral Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Matted FilefishAggressive dottybacks are on the caution list for the matted filefish. A purple dottyback claiming the rockwork will keep this timid, deliberate fish hiding instead of grazing.Springer's DottybackPurple Dottyback and Springer's Dottyback both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Midas BlennyPurple Dottyback and Midas Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Longnose HawkfishPurple Dottyback and Longnose Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Potter's AngelfishPurple Dottyback and Potter's Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Bicolor BlennyPurple Dottyback and Bicolor Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Coris WrassePurple Dottyback and Red Coris Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Flame HawkfishPurple Dottyback and Flame Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Saddleback ClownfishPurple Dottyback and Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Cherub AngelfishPurple Dottyback and Cherub Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Multicolor AngelfishPurple Dottyback and Multicolor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Starry BlennyPurple Dottyback and Starry Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Spotted MandarinPurple Dottyback and Spotted Mandarin both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Rusty AngelfishPurple Dottyback and Rusty Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Emperor AngelfishPurple Dottyback and Emperor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.