Sunrise Dottyback (Pseudochromis flavivertex)

The Sunrise Dottyback (Pseudochromis flavivertex) is a small Red Sea dottyback with a bright blue body and a vivid yellow band running along the top of its back into a yellow tail. Ours is tank raised, so it already eats prepared foods and is used to aquarium life. It is hardy and easy to keep, with a big attitude for its size: bold, territorial and best as the only dottyback in the tank. Browse the rest of our saltwater fish and supplies.

Why Tank Raised Matters Here

A tank raised Sunrise Dottyback has never had to switch from hunting on a reef to eating out of a hand. It takes frozen and dry foods from the start, handles the move into a home tank better, and carries fewer of the parasites wild fish pick up on the reef and in transit. It also means no fish was collected from the Red Sea to fill this tank.

Care Guide

• Tank size: starts in a 30 gallon with plenty of rockwork. A bigger tank with more caves spreads out its territory and calms it down.
• Rockwork: it claims a home cave and defends it. Build several caves and overhangs so other fish have places it does not own.
• Water: 72 to 78°F, salinity 1.020 to 1.025, pH 8.1 to 8.4. Hardy and forgiving, but stable water keeps the colors bright.
• Diet: a carnivore. Feed small meaty foods twice a day: mysis, enriched brine shrimp and small marine pellets. It also hunts bristleworms and small crustaceans in the rock.
• Temperament: one dottyback per tank. Two dottybacks, even of different species, usually fight until one is killed or driven into hiding.
• Lid: dottybacks can jump when startled or chased, so cover the tank.
• Watch for: small ornamental shrimp (sexy shrimp, small peppermint shrimp) and tiny gobies can be harassed or eaten.

Specifications

Compatibility

The Sunrise Dottyback is a good fit with fish that are about its size or larger and can hold their own: Ocellaris Clownfish, Green Chromis and the Banggai Cardinalfish are good company. It leaves corals alone and helps keep bristleworm numbers down.

What goes wrong: a second dottyback of any kind, including the Orchid Dottyback, is the classic mistake, and fish with a similar shape or habit (firefish, dartfish, small basslets and small gobies) are chased hard. Small ornamental shrimp may be eaten. Larger predators such as lionfish and groupers will eat it. It is also best added last, after the other fish have settled, so it does not claim the whole tank as its own.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Piscine Energetics PE Mysis or Hikari Bio-Pure Frozen Mysis Shrimp as the daily staple
• SFBB Mysis Shrimp Cube for variety
• Ocean Nutrition Formula 1 Pellets in the small size as a daily dry food
• Selcon to soak frozen food a few times a week for color

FAQ

Can I keep two dottybacks?
No, not in a normal home tank. Dottybacks fight with their own kind and with other dottyback species. Only a very large tank with lots of rockwork gives two a chance, and even then it is a gamble.

Is it reef safe?
With caution. It will not touch corals or clams and is a help with bristleworms, but small ornamental shrimp and very small fish may be harassed or eaten. Larger cleaner shrimp are usually left alone.

Why did it disappear for a few days?
A new dottyback picks a cave and spends a lot of time in it while it settles in. Once it is sure of its territory it spends most of the day out patrolling the front of the rockwork.

Will it bully my other fish?
It chases fish that come near its cave and can pick on timid or similar-shaped fish. Add it last, give it a cave of its own, and choose tank mates that are its size or larger.

Does it eat prepared foods?
Yes. Tank raised dottybacks eat frozen mysis, brine shrimp and small pellets readily, which is a big part of why they do so well.

How big does it get?
About 3 inches. It stays small, which is why a 30 gallon with good rockwork is a fine start.