Red Sea Pseudochromis question

ryantm · 01/23/2006, 04:31 PM

Of the four that are available:

springers
sunrise
Orchid
dutoiti

Which are the most agreeable? I know most dottybacks are aggressive towards fish etc, but I'm making a biotope and have decided to include one with an Ecsenius gravieri blenny. I would like to keep a cleaner shrimp but this is not a deal breaker as the history of dottys with ornamental shrimp isn't the best.

-Tom

SDguy · 01/23/2006, 07:25 PM

I've kept all but the orchid. Dutoiti and flavivertex were quite aggressive. I currently have a springeri...pretty mellow considering he's in the confines of a 30g tank. Only my springeri has ever taken a liking to ornamental shrimp (he's ripped apart several at this point). I've heard that orchids are the most mellow, but I have no first hand experience.

hth

AIMFish · 01/23/2006, 07:41 PM

I'll comment on orchids then! I get them captive bred and have yet to see a real mean one. They have been and are currently being kept with cleaner shrimp, small gobies, blennies, hermits, snails, clowns, cardinals, and even damsels. I would make sure you have a lid on your tank because I have had a few jump.

Kahuna Tuna · 01/23/2006, 07:52 PM

The mellowest dottyback I've ever kept is another Red Sea species, the Sankey's pseudochromis. I kept a group of four and I had cleaner shrimp as well, very peaceful little fish. Not the most colorful pseudo but very cool little fish.

Vili_Shark · 01/23/2006, 09:18 PM

FEM it goes something like this:
1.P.fridmani
2.P.springeri
Then C.flavivertex which can become quite agressive...the C. dutoiti, I shouldnt even mention, I had one years ago mega agressive in a 150G tank he put a whole school of P.fridmani restricted to a 10" rock (we're talking chinese wall type tank) and killed any small fish that came after a year or so he settled in.

For your biotop, Fridmani and sprigeri sgouldnt be a problem, just get a larger shrimp in there first let it acclimate and then put the Pseudochromis, provide alot of hiding places for the shrimps especialy for the times when he shed the skin and is fragile during that time.

Good luck.

01/23/2006, 04:31 PM	#1
ryantm Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Denver Posts: 173	Red Sea Pseudochromis question Of the four that are available: springers sunrise Orchid dutoiti Which are the most agreeable? I know most dottybacks are aggressive towards fish etc, but I'm making a biotope and have decided to include one with an Ecsenius gravieri blenny. I would like to keep a cleaner shrimp but this is not a deal breaker as the history of dottys with ornamental shrimp isn't the best. -Tom __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: 20Gal Acrylic Custom

01/23/2006, 07:25 PM	#2
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 19,912	I've kept all but the orchid. Dutoiti and flavivertex were quite aggressive. I currently have a springeri...pretty mellow considering he's in the confines of a 30g tank. Only my springeri has ever taken a liking to ornamental shrimp (he's ripped apart several at this point). I've heard that orchids are the most mellow, but I have no first hand experience. hth __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 150g crashed reef. 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 20g clarkii clown cube. 15g QT.

01/23/2006, 07:52 PM	#4
Kahuna Tuna Double ugly Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Big Bear Lake, California Posts: 2,553	The mellowest dottyback I've ever kept is another Red Sea species, the Sankey's pseudochromis. I kept a group of four and I had cleaner shrimp as well, very peaceful little fish. Not the most colorful pseudo but very cool little fish. __________________ "Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." -George Washington Current Tank Info: 180 gallon soft coral reef, sailfin and kole tangs, doliatus and bicolor rabbitfish, majestic angel, pair of true percs, orangetail filefish, and a pair of yellowtail blue damsels.

01/23/2006, 07:41 PM	#3
AIMFish Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Marion,IN Posts: 1,136	I'll comment on orchids then! I get them captive bred and have yet to see a real mean one. They have been and are currently being kept with cleaner shrimp, small gobies, blennies, hermits, snails, clowns, cardinals, and even damsels. I would make sure you have a lid on your tank because I have had a few jump.

01/23/2006, 09:18 PM	#5
Vili_Shark Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,844	FEM it goes something like this: 1.P.fridmani 2.P.springeri Then C.flavivertex which can become quite agressive...the C. dutoiti, I shouldnt even mention, I had one years ago mega agressive in a 150G tank he put a whole school of P.fridmani restricted to a 10" rock (we're talking chinese wall type tank) and killed any small fish that came after a year or so he settled in. For your biotop, Fridmani and sprigeri sgouldnt be a problem, just get a larger shrimp in there first let it acclimate and then put the Pseudochromis, provide alot of hiding places for the shrimps especialy for the times when he shed the skin and is fragile during that time. Good luck.