Sunrise Dottyback

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Semi-aggressive   • Maximum Size: 3"
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-80° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
• Diet: Carnivore   • Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Family: Pseudochromidae   • Species: Pseudochromis   • Aquarium Type: Reef Compatible

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The Sunrise Dottyback is native to the tropical reefs of the Central Indo-Pacific. As one of the hardiest and undemanding reef fish available, the Sunrise Dottyback is an excellent choice for beginners as well as the more experienced hobbyists. The Sunrise Dottyback has clear fins and a beautiful color combination of a bright-white ventral side, a vivid yellow chin and face that continues all the way down its back to the top and bottom of its caudal fin; in addition it has electric-blue lateral lines (sometimes between the lateral line and the dorsal fin) that start behind the eye and the middle-rear of the operculum and run all the way down to the caudal fin.

Often used as an "accent" fish and extremely popular as a "nano" fish, the addition of a Sunrise Dottyback will surely bring a vivid dash of color to any reef aquarium. Due to its extreme popularity from having such an amazing color combination and being a hardy and easy species to keep, Sunrise Dottybacks are readily available in the hobby from local retailers and online vendors alike.

Sunrise Dottybacks require an aquarium of at least 30 gallons and with a rock-associated lifestyle should be provided with plenty of live rock and hiding places. They are middle to bottom dwellers that generally mix well with other reef inhabitants, but can sometimes be territorial. They have also been known to eat very small, commensal or ornamental shrimp such as "anemone shrimp". Tank mates should be chosen carefully and preferably added before the Sunrise Dottyback if compatibility is questionable; if more than one specimen is desired it's recommended to add them at the same time.

Sunrise Dottybacks are carnivorous and naturally prey upon small shrimp, amphipods, copepods and bristleworms. In the aquarium they should be fed a variety of meaty foods such as live, frozen, freeze-dried, and vitamin enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped mysis shrimp, finely chopped krill and other sea foods; as well as carnivore/omnivore pellets and flake foods. To preserve the stunning coloration of a Sunrise Dottyback, variety and vitamins are very important (their beautiful color may fade without them). Feed 1 to 2 times per day.

Through protogynous hermaphroditism, female Sunrise Dottybacks can shift sex and become male, but cannot shift back to female. To form pairs, hobbyists will start off with plenty of room and two fish of different size, or in a much larger aquarium with more than two fish, a male may lure a female to his small cave or rock crevice, where she will lay a cluster of sticky eggs. The male will fan and guard the eggs to keep them aerated and safe. 3 to7 days later the eggs will hatch and the young will be in a larval stage for the next 30 days. Enriched live prey (brine shrimp and rotifers) are essential for larval development.