The Dottyback is a brilliantly coloured saltwater fish that grow to about 8cm with the larger species growing to about 12 cm.  Dottybacks are from coral reefs throughout the world and there are as many as 100 different species!  Out of those 100 there are 4 sub-families with 16 genera.  Quite a lot of these fish are difficult to collect as they are found in remote areas.  Depending on which country you live they can be hard to get your hands on and very expensive.

 
They have a tendency to be very shy at times!  In the wild they are not usually found far away from their favorite cave.  Though found on various coral reefs even the common diver may find himself unfamiliar with these fish due to their intense shy behavior.  In the wild in order for these brilliant fish to be photographed the photographers find themselves having to be very patient and focused making sure their equipment is as quite as possible as not to scare the fish!  Though these fish are very hard to spot in the wild in a smaller home saltwater aquarium this won’t be such an issue.

In your saltwater aquarium these fish can start out quite shy but become more confident and more social with time.  You will see them swimming to and fro from their favorite caves and hiding spots whilst keeping a keen eye on the passers by roaming around the aquarium.  I’ve had personal experiences where I’d sit in front of my aquarium containing a Royal Dottyback and viewed it overlooking my own behavior!  This is short lived as it will flee back into it’s hiding spot before once again building up the confidence to scurry back out again for another look.

One thing to be cautious of with the Dottyback is that it can be quite aggressive.  They are usually kept in saltwater tanks containing Tangs, Damsels, Wrasse, Hawkfish and Clownfish.  Problems with a Dottybacks aggression usually occur in smaller saltwater aquariums.  In larger aquariums the Dottyback will usually mind it’s own business, though towards other Dottybacks these fish can be quite territorial!  It’s advisable to house a single Dottyback within your Aquarium. It’s not uncommon if more than one Dottyback that is kept in an aquarium to  fight till the death until all but one survives!

Another thing to be aware of is that you don’t introduce the Dottyback with larger predatory fish.  Their slight slender build can make them a nice meal for any predatory fish with a mouth large enough.

In your aquariums it’s important to give these fish are variation of foods.  All foods must be of high quality as if you haven’t been feeding the Dottyback food with the correct nutrients their colours can become quite dull, which can be disappointing for anyone who loves a beautifully coloured fish.  Brine Shrimp, frozen plankton bloodworms, mysis shrimp and quality pellets are great selections.

One of the great things about the Dotty is it’s a extremely hardy fish.  They handle lower water quality than most saltwater fish and are less likely to get sick compared to other fish in your aquarium.

These fish are fantastic and beautiful fish to keep!  With an amazing personality for such a small fish! Their feisty but fascinating behavior can make a welcome addition to most saltwater aquariums.

Be sure to check out the rest of our site for some fantastic videos on Saltwater Aquariums! 

Also check out our full professional guide on Saltwater Aquariums at http://www.exclusivefishfilms.com
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Good luck and enjoy.
Paul Talbot