At first, the Royal Dottyback is indistinguishable from the commonly available blue eye royal dottyback. With its vivid color pattern, it adds a splash of color into your aquarium. The Royal Dottyback is a hermaphrodite and can adopt either male or female characteristics. It is a hardy and low maintenance fish. It is semi-aggressive and does not get intimidated by other fishes. The Royal Dottyback defends a small territory against similar looking fishes. This behavior makes the Royal Dottyback an unsuitable fish for a peaceful community tank. However, it does not harm invertebrates, but may pick at sessile organisms like tubeworms. The Royal Dottyback should not be kept in a tank less than 10 gallon. Since it grows to a maximum size of 3 inches, it is better to keep it in large tanks. The Royal Dottyback demands plenty of hiding places such as rocks and caves. It thrives well in a temperature range of 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit, and pH of 8.1-8.4. The Royal Dottyback is mostly found in and around the rocky regions of coral reefs. It feeds on many small crustaceans and zooplanktons, and other frozen foods such as mysis shrimps, brine shrimp, krill should be given for its continued good health.
Also known as a Bicolor PseudochromisPhoto by Saltwaterfish.com member, happyhourh: Zach BrownThis brightly colored fish will grow up to 3 inches in length.This fish can be recognized by the two bold colors; the anterior portion is purple and the posterior portion is bright yellow.The diet should consist of meaty foods including brine shrimp and prepared frozen foods.This fish will defend itself and its territory against fish up to 3 times its own size but will get along in a community tank.Dottybacks are a group of small, colorful basslet-like fish that inhabit the crevices and small caves of the coral reef.Dottybacks can be kept in smaller aquariums, although larger tanks with plenty of live rock are preferable. They are territorial and will defend the area they have claimed as home quite aggressively. Housing several dottybacks depends on the size of the tank and the amount of hiding places available. There is some success with introducing several dottybacks at the same time, this allows each to establish a territory to defend, without giving an advantage to one. Once a dottyback has becomes accustomed to a tank, it is usually difficult to get another introduced without being attacked. Dottybacks vary species by species in aggressiveness, and care should be taken when deciding which to introduce to an aquarium community.Dottybacks are easy to feed, and frozen foods such as Mysid shrimp or Brine shrimp are readily accepted. They are also known to feed on small bristle worms, and have been introduced to tanks to help control excessive bristle worm populations. Aqua-cultured dottybacks are also fed pellet or granulated food.The family of Dottybacks are well known for their elusive nature. These fish tend to stay within their crevice or cave until it is time to feed. Their color is usually quite dramatic and they are capable of changing their sex. When eggs are laid the males are known to pick up the eggs with their mouths in order to keep them aerated.
