2 Dottybacks Living in Harmony? Yes!

[JawfishJunkie]

I`m not suggesting that anyone else try this---but Dottybacks are so colorful, active and minimal bio-load that Ive always wanted to have more than one. Of, course , they can be VERY aggressive towards certain fish, especially towards each other.

A couple of months ago I picked up one of those Blue ORA Hybrids. 3 Weeks ago I got a Tank Raised Springeri about half the size of the first Pseudo.

There have been absolutely no problems. I`ll even see them within a couple of inches of each other without paying any attention whatsoever.

I think the reasons for this are:

1) Both Fish are Tank Bred--so might not have the full Natural instinct

2) I put the bigger, more docile Hybrid in first

3) The Hybrid is a cross between Springeri and Fridmani---two Pseudos who are more territorial than aggressive.

4) Its a big tank---120 Gallons 48 x 24 with tons of rockwork, caves, crevices, etc.

Im actually contemplating pushing my luck and introducing a Fridmani in there too.

 

[marrone]

Tank breed doesn't really have much to do with Dottybacks not keeping their full aggressive natural instinct, as tank breed ones are just as aggressive as the wild caught ones. You'll find that the big different in wild caught vs tank breed is the wild caught ones are more colorful. Size can matter but certain Dottybacks are more aggressive than others, and regardless of the size difference, the more aggressive one will usually beat on the other one. All Dottybacks are aggressive, some more than ones, but some do very well in groups, like Sunrise, Fridmani, Striper and the Springeri as does the Royal Gramma. If the tank is big enough, with plenty of hiding spaces, you usually can introduce a number of the same species or different species together without any problems. What usually happens is one is becomes the dominate fish of the tank. It's also possible to have them pair up and spawn. Now with the Dottybacks that are very aggressive it's usually hard to keep more than one in a tank, as unless the tank is very large one will usually attack the one until it kills it.

 

[Social D]

I have 3 chalk basslets and a Royal gramma all get along very well!