Springer's Dottyback

From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer

Pseudochromis springeri - Lubbocke, 1975
Springer's Dottyback

An elegantly colored Red Sea endemic species. Scott W. Michael

[edit] Overview

Jet black with bright blue blazing, this is an unusually beautiful and interesting-to-observe species. It is very durable and captive-raised individuals are readily available.

Family: Pseudochromidae

Other common name(s):

  • Bluestriped Dottyback

Native range:

Habitat: Reef. It will live among the branches of stony corals (live or skeletons) and in nooks and crannies in the live rock.

Maximum length: 1.6 cm (1 in)

Minimum aquarium size: 38 L (10 gal)

Water: Marine 24 °C (297 K, 75 °F) - 28 °C (301 K, 82 °F)

General swimming level: Midwater to bottom.

[edit] Feeding

Carnivore. Feed meaty foods at least once a day. Color-enhancing foods will help prevent fading, although it tends to be more color-fast than many others in the family.

[edit] Aquarium Compatibility

Like other dottybacks, Springer’s Dottyback can present problems in a small tank, as it is prone to picking on smaller, substrate-oriented fishes such as gobies, dartfishes and blennies. Aggression is less problematic in a larger tank. Keep one per tank unless you can obtain a pair (try adding two smaller individuals, or one large and one small, to increase the likelihood of getting a male and female). It may bother small shrimps, but is otherwise not a threat to ornamental invertebrates.

[edit] Breeding/Propagation

Demersal (on or near the bottom) spawners that tend and protect their broods.

[edit] Notes

This is a somewhat furtive fish that will dash about the tank, never very far from shelter, occasionally stopping at the opening of a hideout to assess its situation or to dash out to grab passing food items.

Reference: 101 Best Saltwater Fishes
Image credit: SWM
Text credit: SWM
Facts about Springer's DottybackRDF feed
Common name Springer's Dottyback  +, and Bluestriped Dottyback  +
Family Pseudochromidae  +
Genus Pseudochromis  +
Image credit SWM  +
Maximum length 1 in  +
Minimum aquarium size 10 gal  +
Native range Red Sea  +
Reference 101 Best Saltwater Fishes  +
Specific name springeri  +
Swimming level Midwater to bottom.  +
Text credit SWM  +
Water max temp 301 K (28 °C, 82 °F)  +
Water min temp 297 K (24 °C, 75 °F)  +
Water type Marine  +
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