Do Orchid Dottybacks burrow?

[esolo16]

Something is digging tunnels and kicking sand onto my monti caps. I have two clowns, an orchid dottyback and a couple of snails/hermits. Does anyone know if an orchid dottyback will burrow or do I have an unknown hitchhiker in my tank?

 

[Joey waid]

I have a purple dotty that digs and spits sand. I don't know if that helps you.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Something is digging tunnels and kicking sand onto my monti caps. I have two clowns, an orchid dottyback and a couple of snails/hermits. Does anyone know if an orchid dottyback will burrow or do I have an unknown hitchhiker in my tank?

Never heard of dottybacks doing that. If the tank is newer, might be a shrimp or crab hitchhiker.

 

[esolo16]

The tank is new (~4 months old), however I started with dry rock. I guess something could have hitched on to the mini acan colony I recently added. I originally thought pistol shrimp but I am not hearing any of the telltale clicking noises.

 

[Robink]

I also have an orchid dottyback that clears sand out of his burrow. He spits it all over the corals.

 

[reeferfoxx]

The tank is new (~4 months old), however I started with dry rock. I guess something could have hitched on to the mini acan colony I recently added. I originally thought pistol shrimp but I am not hearing any of the telltale clicking noises.

I have no idea. Maybe set a trap or check in on the tank around 2 or 3am? lol

 

[dmh41532]

Oh yeah, ive had two and both dug, my current one has been digging/maintaing them all over my tank.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Orchid dottybacks don't always rearrange their surroundings, but can if they feel that doing so would provide better cover. When doing that kind of digging a dottyback will not fortify the tunnel with rubble. If rubble is utilized then it is likely to be a hitchhiker.

 

[4FordFamily]

My orchids have never done anything of the sort, but I've heard them occasionally behaving like a watchman goby to an extent. I would be surprised if it was responsible for what you describe, however.

 

[Empress]

Dotties and Grammas love to pick up sand and dump it elsewhere. Try moving the monti away from the Dottys hidey hole. Dotty doesn't like the monti. Lol

 

[DropInTheOcean Matthew]

Something is digging tunnels and kicking sand onto my monti caps. I have two clowns, an orchid dottyback and a couple of snails/hermits. Does anyone know if an orchid dottyback will burrow or do I have an unknown hitchhiker in my tank?

Definitely! It’s hard to see him in the picture with the lights, but he is burrowed underneath a rock with my pistolshrimp oddly enough.. I just got them together and they paired! A pistolshrimp pairing with an orchid dottyback?? Now I’ve seen it all