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Striped Dottyback
Dottyback

Striped Dottyback

Pseudochromis sankeyi

Sankey's dottyback stands out in its family: FishBase and retailers both describe it living in loose colonies on wild reefs, and it is one of the very few dottybacks that tolerates its own kind in captivity — small groups introduced together at the same time can settle without the usual infighting. At around 7 cm and widely captive-bred, it's an easy, hardy reef fish, but it is still a carnivorous micro-predator that will opportunistically pick off a small ornamental shrimp or hermit crab given the chance. Best introduced as a same-size group all at once rather than added one at a time.

Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Max size
2.8"
Min tank
30 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Rockwork, Caves, Bottom
Best in a group of 3+.
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Tankmates

How Striped 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.

Orchid DottybackStriped Dottyback and Orchid Dottyback are the same genus (Pseudochromis) and will fight — keep only one.Springer's DottybackStriped 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 Striped Dottyback.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Neon DottybackStriped Dottyback and Neon Dottyback are the same genus (Pseudochromis) and will fight — keep only one.Marine BettaMarine Betta has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Zebra Dwarf LionfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Six-Line SoapfishSix-Line Soapfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Painted FrogfishPainted Frogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.Dogface PufferDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Striped Dottyback.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Kole TangStriped Dottyback and Kole Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Sixline WrasseStriped Dottyback and Sixline Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Melanurus WrasseStriped Dottyback and Melanurus Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Coral HawkfishStriped Dottyback and Coral Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Purple DottybackStriped Dottyback and Purple Dottyback both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Midas BlennyStriped Dottyback and Midas Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Longnose HawkfishStriped Dottyback and Longnose Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Potter's AngelfishStriped Dottyback and Potter's Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Bicolor BlennyStriped Dottyback and Bicolor Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Coris WrasseStriped Dottyback and Red Coris Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Flame HawkfishStriped Dottyback and Flame Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Saddleback ClownfishStriped Dottyback and Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Cherub AngelfishStriped Dottyback and Cherub Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Multicolor AngelfishStriped Dottyback and Multicolor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Starry BlennyStriped Dottyback and Starry Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Spotted MandarinStriped Dottyback and Spotted Mandarin both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Rusty AngelfishStriped Dottyback and Rusty Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Emperor AngelfishStriped Dottyback and Emperor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Regal AngelfishStriped Dottyback and Regal Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Fourline WrasseStriped Dottyback and Fourline Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.