Purple/Strawberry Dottyback

About this fish

Purple/Strawberry Dottyback is a marine aquarium fish sold under the shop name “Purple/Strawberry Dottyback,” and it is identified here as Pseudochromis porphyreus (common dottyback). It’s typically used as an attractive, personality-rich “show fish” that actively hunts for food and claims a small territory within the live rock. Many hobbyists keep dottybacks in species-focused or carefully planned community setups to showcase their active behavior while limiting aggression toward tankmates.

Features:

• Carnivorous dottyback that accepts a meaty diet and spends much of its time searching through rockwork for food
• Bold, territorial temperament—best kept alone or with tankmates that can hold their own
• Tends to establish a home base in aquascape; provides plenty of hiding spots and visual barriers
• Active swimmer that often moves through the mid-to-lower portions of the aquarium, especially near caves or crevices
• Generally suited to reef aquaria with appropriate tankmate selection and observation (avoid very small, easily bullied tankmates)
• Tolerant of standard marine tank conditions when acclimated properly and fed consistently

Specifications:

• Scientific name: Pseudochromis porphyreus
• Care level: Moderate
• Temperament: Territorial/aggressive toward some tankmates; best planned carefully
• Diet: Meaty, carnivorous foods (e.g., frozen/thawed meaty foods and other small meaty preparations)
• Adult size: About 4–5 in (10–13 cm)
• Minimum tank size (typical guideline): 30 gallons (for a single fish)
• Temperature: Tropical marine range, about 72–78°F (22–26°C)
• pH: About 8.1–8.4
• Salinity: About 1.020–1.026 specific gravity
• Placement: Mid-to-lower areas around live rock caves/crevices