Australian Dottyback - Male (Australia)

Dottybacks are colorful and feisty fish with many fantastic qualities. They are not shy, instead always active and swimming in and out of the rockwork ensuring their bright colors may be enjoyed. Plenty of caves and decor will help them feel secure and spend more time in the open. They are intelligent and can hold their own against larger aggressive fish, but are not recommended with small docile species which they will bully. Dottybacks are hardy fish which are easy to feed and disease resistant making them easy to keep. If they are to be kept together they must be added at the same time to a sufficiently large aquarium with plenty of hiding places, and aggressive species not added before more aggressive ones. Best tank mates include angels, tangs, foxface, clowns, damsels, chromis, Toby puffers and large cardinals and gobies. All but the smallest species may be kept with hawkfish, triggers and large pufferfish.

Dottybacks are coral safe but may attack and consume crustaceans, especially shrimp. Large species may eat very small fish. They may also eat bristleworms. Diet should include plenty of high quality meaty items such as frozen Mysis shrimp, chopped krill, enriched brine shrimp, marine algae and Spirulina fed at least once a day. They usually learn to eat dry foods as well.

This rare and exotic rainbow colored fish makes an incredible display in the right aquarium.

Males have a deep steel colored body contrasted against a bright scarlet head and shoulders as well as outline to the caudal fin. Females are mainly peach to rosy pink with intense sakura cherry stripes under the rear half of its dorsal fin. In both sexes an electric blue arc shines under its eye, similarly blue freckles coat its gill covers, and bright lemon yellow coats its dorsal fin and sometimes its back as well.

The Australian dottyback grows up to 4 inches and needs an aquarium of at least 50 gallons.