Orchid Dottyback – Pseudochromis fridmani – CB

The Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani) is only found in the Red Sea in the wild but captive-bred fish have made it popular among aquarists. It has a vivid magenta body with magenta fins and a black stripe running from the lip through the eye. Many of the scales have a darker spot at the tip giving the body a slight criss-cross pattern. This is a popular fish for bristleworm control.

Dottybacks are popular and hardy aquarium fish that range greatly in size, temperament and coloration. Most come from the genus Pseudochromis (and the term Dottyback is often used interchangeably with Pseudochromis) but several other smaller genuses can also be found, including the new genus Pictichromis which contains the very common and popular Strawberry Dottyback (P. porphyrea), Diadema Dottyback (P. diadema) and the Bicolor Dottyback (P. paccagnallae).

Most species will normally accept frozen foods like brine shrimp and krill soon after acclimating to the home aquarium. Larger species may accept larger meaty items like pieces of scallop, shrimp, clams and similar items while smaller species should be given brine shrimp, mysis shrimp and other smaller foods. Flake food or pellet food can be added once the fish has become established in the aquarium to supplement their diet and add more variety.

Dottybacks are territorial fish, and should only be kept one to a tank. They will get along with all other types of fish as long as their home \