Pseudochromis fridmani compatability

saltyhog · Jan 2, 2014

Thinking of adding a tank bred orchid dottyback. Tank is 72x24x21, with 36 gallon sump and about 200 lbs of live rock. Mixed reef but mostly SPS (small frags and a few small colonies)

Current residents: black ocellaris X 2, Royal Gramma, Red firefish, 2 fairy wrasse, 2 flasher wrasse, 3 Halichoerus wrasse, Watanabei angel (female) and a flameback dwarf angel. Very peaceful tank so far. My main concern is the Gramma(looks similar) and the firefish (most timid resident).

Will this guy fit in?

CastAway · Jan 2, 2014

Hey Salty, check this out: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/fish-discussion/143872-pseudochromis-compatibility.html. Might be helpful.

Eienna · Jan 3, 2014

Dottybacks in general can be vicious. The one you mentioned is one of the meaner ones, from what I've heard. Personally, I wouldn't touch that idea with a 13-foot pole.

saltyhog · Jan 3, 2014

Well, that species won't be going in my tank! Someone told me they were one of the tamer pseudochromis! SMH. I really hadn't considered that genus till recently. Getting to the end of my stocking and I sure don't want to introduce a problem. Everybody gets along great right now.

Eienna · Jan 3, 2014

saltyhog said:
Well, that species won't be going in my tank! Someone told me they were one of the tamer pseudochromis! SMH. I really hadn't considered that genus till recently. Getting to the end of my stocking and I sure don't want to introduce a problem. Everybody gets along great right now.

I could be wrong about that specific one being one of the meaner, but it's still a dottyback. Avoid sixline wrasses, damsels (except some clowns), and dottybacks if you want to avoid bloodshed in a peaceful tank.

If you really want to know which ones to avoid, browse the "which fish do you wish you'd never put in" and "which fish is your most aggressive"-type threads.

ingtar_shinowa · Jan 3, 2014

It will be great. I've always kept an orchid in a tank for 14 year, one of my all time favorite fish. Never had a problem, make sure its a fridmani because purple dottys look similar and are MEAN. A black line through the eye will let you know.