Dottyback digging?

GetReefy · Mar 9, 2023

We have had our dottyback for a few months and he’s always stayed in a little cove and swam throughout the rockwork. Today we noticed him going under a rock and digging it out and spitting the sand toward the back of the tank. Is this typical behavior for a dottyback?

blaxsun · Mar 9, 2023

Apparently (I have a striped one that behaves in a similar manner). But only the one so far...

stephydawn · Mar 9, 2023

My neon dottyback does that,; he fits in the smallest spots and comes out spitting out sand. I’m sure by now he has a big cave under the rock. He’s the reason I can’t get a sand sifting goby; it has claimed all the rock and sand in the 32 gallon.

GetReefy · Mar 11, 2023

stephydawn said:
My neon dottyback does that,; he fits in the smallest spots and comes out spitting out sand. I’m sure by now he has a big cave under the rock. He’s the reason I can’t get a sand sifting goby; it has claimed all the rock and sand in the 32 gallon.

We have a watchman goby and pistol shrimp pair. I’m hoping the dotty stays on his side of the tank and doesn’t get too brave.