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Springer's Dottyback
Dottyback

Springer's Dottyback

Pseudochromis springeri

A tiny blue-black Red Sea dottyback dressed in fine electric-blue speckling — small, hardy, and captive-bred, but with the family's territorial streak. It defends its cave and will harass similarly-sized, similarly-coloured cave and mid-water fish, most notoriously the Royal Gramma it mirrors in niche and colour. Captive-bred specimens are noticeably milder than wild ones. Reef-safe with corals, though it may pick off very small ornamental shrimp.

Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Max size
2.4"
Min tank
20 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Rockwork, Caves, Bottom
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Springer's 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.

Lubbock's Fairy WrasseSpringer's Dottyback is documented to harass fairy wrasses; both occupy rock/mid niches.Royal GrammaTwo small purple-and-blue cave dwellers that want the same crevice and look enough alike to read as rivals. They clash over territory, and care sheets routinely warn against keeping Royal Gramma with dottybacks.Orchid DottybackSpringer's Dottyback and Orchid 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 Springer's Dottyback.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Neon DottybackSpringer's Dottyback is one of the smallest and most peaceful in the family, and the Neon Dottyback reserves its worst behaviour for other dottybacks. Keep one dottyback per tank.Marine BettaMarine Betta has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Zebra Dwarf LionfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Fuzzy Dwarf LionfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Six-Line SoapfishSix-Line Soapfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Kole TangSpringer's Dottyback and Kole Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Sixline WrasseSpringer's Dottyback and Sixline Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Melanurus WrasseSpringer's Dottyback and Melanurus Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Coral HawkfishSpringer's Dottyback and Coral Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Purple DottybackSpringer's Dottyback and Purple Dottyback both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Midas BlennySpringer's Dottyback and Midas Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Longnose HawkfishSpringer's Dottyback and Longnose Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Potter's AngelfishSpringer's Dottyback and Potter's Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Bicolor BlennySpringer's Dottyback and Bicolor Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Coris WrasseSpringer's Dottyback and Red Coris Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Flame HawkfishSpringer's Dottyback and Flame Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Saddleback ClownfishSpringer's Dottyback and Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Cherub AngelfishSpringer's Dottyback and Cherub Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Multicolor AngelfishSpringer's Dottyback and Multicolor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Starry BlennySpringer's Dottyback and Starry Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Spotted MandarinSpringer's Dottyback and Spotted Mandarin both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Rusty AngelfishSpringer's Dottyback and Rusty Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Emperor AngelfishSpringer's Dottyback and Emperor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Regal AngelfishSpringer's Dottyback and Regal Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Fourline WrasseSpringer's Dottyback and Fourline Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.