Description
The Elongate Dottyback is a great option of Dottyback for many reasons. First, it is beautiful. It has an orange head and face with the rest of the body being a gradient of red. Along with that is a deep black tail with some orange outlining and interesting yellow and blue eye color. Another reason it is a good choice is the size. It is smaller than most dottybacks which makes it a great choice for nano aquariums. It is also less aggressive than most dottybacks, though it still has the bold, confident nature they are loved for. Like with most Dottybacks, it is best to house this fish with plenty of rock work that is filled with caves, holes, and tunnels. You shouldn’t have a problem with this fish being a threat to shrimp or small crustaceans. This fish can be kept with peaceful fish, but just to be safe, add it last or close to last. This will decrease the chances for aggression and issues with territory. Avoid keeping more than one per tank unless they are housed in a large aquarium.
Care Requirements
- Feeding: Carnivore. Feed meaty foods. If you can, feed live foods for a healthier more vibrant fish.
- Water Parameters: ~78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
- Temperament: Semi-aggressive
- Reef safe: Yes
- Color: Orange head with reddish body and black tail
More Information
This Elongate Dottyback is rarely imported from Sulawesi and Indonesia, but most of the time it is captive-bred. The specimens here are captive-bred by ORA. Captive-bred fish comes with a ton of benefits such as increased resilience to disease and increased hardiness. They are also well adapted to aquarium life and better able to handle the stress of shipping than wild-caught fish. By purchasing captive-bred fish, you are helping the ocean by discouraging the harmful wild-caught trade while supporting the captive-bred industry. This helps make our wonderful hobby more sustainable.
