What is the most peaceful dottyback species?

Gatling · Jun 30, 2020

As the title suggests, what are the most peaceful dottyback species? After doing some research, I came across that dottybacks are somewhat aggressive but my LFS (whom I trust greatly) said a lot of their dottybacks are very peaceful (orchid, neon). I was wondering if anyone here knows some of the aggressive and peaceful dottyback species.

For more context, I have a Nuvo 20 gallon with 2 frostbite clown fish and a small cardinal fish with lots of live rock for hiding spaces. I am looking into getting a dottyback of some kind!

jwshiver · Jun 30, 2020

I had a Neon Dottyback. Satans Spawn!! Meanest fish I ever owned. Had to get rid of it.

Tahoe61 · Jun 30, 2020

I have a Neon, yeah they're one of the meanest, but extremely colorful. This fish has a 14 gallon all to himself.

I have an Orchid in a 40 with a pair of clowns and an angel. Really mellow fish and just gorgeous.

Adamantium · Jun 30, 2020

I have an Indigo that’s super timid.

S2G · Jun 30, 2020

I have an orchid that's bold but very peaceful. Bright colors

SMSREEF · Jun 30, 2020

I have an orchid as well. Agree about @S2G that they are bold And won’t get pushed around too bad, and mine does not pick on any other fish.

ichthyogeek · Jun 30, 2020

I’ve heard that orchids are the most peaceful. But I’ve also heard the same of elongate (Pseudochromis elongatus) ones as well.

Bryknicks · Jun 30, 2020

I have an orchid that was an animal and killed a shrimp and two fish. I added a pair of clowns, and they now keep it in check.

Gatling · Jul 1, 2020

Interesting, thanks for all the replies! Any fish can turn aggressive by chance but I just want to make my tank a peaceful place. I have a lot of hiding places for fishes to retreat to but I just don't want any issues with my two clowns (since I waited 6 months for them to be in stock!).

I will be leaning towards the indigo or orchid dottyback unless anyone else has other recommendations

mattzang · Jul 1, 2020

neons are not known to be peaceful

orchids, indigos, striped, and elongates are all known to be pretty decent community fish. that said they're still dottybacks. with your stocklist it'll be fine, but i'd make it the last fish in there. springeris are also known to be decent. sunrise either seem to be satan spawn or nobody sees them

i have an orchid that i'm holding off on putting in my DT until i can get some more peaceful rock based fish so he doesn't cause issues. plus i might want to add another dottyback

mort · Jul 2, 2020

Good advice above. Dottybacks have always interested me and were the first marine species I bred and raised. Ime of keeping them, mostly for breeding, the fridmani is the best closely followed by sankeyi and their hybrid cross the indigo. I've never had an issue with springers and then you have sunrise which are a slight jump in aggression to sunrise before a much bigger jump to neons that can really be nasty. I've kept others that were really nasty.

I'd put fridmani on the level of a royal gramma, most are nice and play fair but occasionally one didn't read the memo and is a little pugnacious.

dotty · Aug 19, 2020

mort said:
Good advice above. Dottybacks have always interested me and were the first marine species I bred and raised. Ime of keeping them, mostly for breeding, the fridmani is the best closely followed by sankeyi and their hybrid cross the indigo. I've never had an issue with springers and then you have sunrise which are a slight jump in aggression to sunrise before a much bigger jump to neons that can really be nasty. I've kept others that were really nasty.

I'd put fridmani on the level of a royal gramma, most are nice and play fair but occasionally one didn't read the memo and is a little pugnacious.

How would you compare yellow assessors to dottybacks in terms of group dynamic and breeding. From what I've read, assessors tend to be more peaceful although there are less breeding successes

Mgex · Aug 19, 2020

jwshiver said:
I had a Neon Dottyback. Satans Spawn!! Meanest fish I ever owned. Had to get rid of it.

Facts

vetteguy53081 · Aug 19, 2020

Bi-color

mort · Aug 20, 2020

dotty said:
How would you compare yellow assessors to dottybacks in terms of group dynamic and breeding. From what I've read, assessors tend to be more peaceful although there are less breeding successes

Assessors are very expensive over here so the most I've ever kept are single specimens. I've heard they do well in groups and that they are far more peaceful than your average dotty but I don't know the species that we'll personally.