Gold-lined dottyback
Pseudochromis aurulentus
A small, golden-hued dottyback known for its robust nature. Like many of its genus, it exhibits highly territorial and aggressive behavior toward smaller tankmates.
Température de l’eau
22 - 26 °C
Valeur du pH
8.1 - 8.4
Type d'eau
Marin
Niveau dans le bac
Fond
Taille adulte
6,5 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 80 L
Groupe minimal
>= 1
KH
8 - 12 dKH
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat:
This species is native to the Western Central Pacific, with populations documented in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea, and Palau. It inhabits coral reef zones rich in crevices and rubble, often associating with cracks in rock walls or the base of corals at depths between 15 and 50 meters.
Taxonomy and Morphology:
Belonging to the family Pseudochromidae (commonly known as dottybacks), it features an elongated and slightly laterally compressed body. The head is rounded with large, alert eyes. It reaches a modest maximum size, typically not exceeding 7 centimeters in length. The mouth is equipped with small, sharp teeth.
Social Behavior:
It is a solitary, highly territorial, and aggressive species, especially toward similarly sized fish or bottom-dwelling tankmates. It does not hesitate to defend its cave against much larger intruders. In the aquarium, its aggressive behavior requires careful planning when choosing tankmates.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism:
The body coloration is dominated by warm yellow-orange or golden hues, with thin iridicent horizontal lines on the flanks and pinkish shading on the abdomen. The fins feature transparent or slightly colored margins. No visible external sexual dimorphism is present between males and females.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup:
Can be housed in aquariums starting from 100 liters for a single specimen. The tank layout must feature a complex structure of live rock to create a network of caves, tunnels, and hiding spots. This is essential for the fish to establish its territory and feel secure in its environment.
Diet and Feeding:
It is a voracious carnivorous predator. In captivity, it feeds on a wide variety of frozen foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, chopped krill, and lobster eggs. It also readily accepts high-quality dry pellet and flake foods. It is recommended to feed them twice a day.
Water Quality:
Requires stable and clean water parameters: temperature between 24°C and 27°C, pH between 8.1 and 8.4, specific gravity from 1.020 to 1.025, and carbonate hardness (KH) between 8 and 12 dKH. Nitrogenous waste must be kept close to zero through regular water changes and efficient filtration.
Compatibility and Cohabitation:
It is safe with corals but may prey on tiny invertebrates such as nano ornamental shrimps or small tubeworms. Due to its strong territoriality, it should be housed with robust, active fish like tangs, wrasses, and damselfish. Avoid keeping with shy gobies or other dottybacks.
Aquarium Breeding:
Breeding in home aquariums is extremely difficult to achieve successfully, although spawning events have been recorded. They are hermaphrodites and form temporary pairs. The female deposits a spherical egg mass inside a cave, which the male then guards and fans until they hatch.
Risks and Diseases:
It is a hardy fish and highly resistant to common marine diseases. The primary risk in captivity is stress from territorial conflicts or the lack of proper caves, which can cause the fish to jump out of the aquarium. Ensure the aquarium is equipped with a tight-fitting lid.
Origine et répartition géographiques
This species is native to the Western Central Pacific, with populations documented in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea, and Palau. It inhabits coral reef zones rich in crevices and rubble, often associating with cracks in rock walls or the base of corals at depths between 15 and 50 meters.
Origine
Océans tropicaux et récifsAustralie, Nouvelle-Guinée et Océanie
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Territorial
- Known for their bold, feisty, and often pugnacious personalities, they are not easily intimidated despite their small size. They will aggressively defend their chosen cave from intruders of almost any size. Because of their territorial nature, it is highly recommended to add them as one of the last fish in a community setup. Once established, they are very active and visible, providing dynamic movement.
- Régime alimentaire
- Carnivore
- These fish are obligate carnivores that require a diet rich in meaty marine foods to thrive. They should be offered a varied menu including finely chopped seafood, mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, and high-quality carnivore pellets. Providing a diverse diet is crucial for maintaining their vibrant coloration and overall health. They will also scavenge for small benthic copepods and amphipods within the live rock.
- Espérance de vie
- 5-7 years
- Taille adulte
- 6.5 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Solitary
- Dottybacks are typically protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning females can transition into males if needed. Because of their severe intra-species aggression, it is strongly recommended to keep only one individual per tank unless a bonded pair is acquired. Introducing two unsexed individuals often results in relentless fighting until only one survives. In very large systems with intricate rockwork, a male and female pair might coexist.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- To keep their metabolism healthy and mitigate potential aggression, they should be fed small portions one to two times per day. Overfeeding should be avoided to prevent excess waste accumulation in the tank. A well-fed dottyback is generally less prone to harassing its tank mates out of hunger. Target feeding can be utilized if they are reluctant to come out during the initial acclimation period.
- Charge biologique
- Low
- Dottybacks have a low to moderate bioload depending on their adult size and their heavily carnivorous diet. Their meaty food intake produces slightly more nitrogenous waste compared to similar-sized herbivores. Standard protein skimming and regular water changes will easily accommodate them. They are generally robust and add minimal strain to an established aquarium's filtration system.
- Courant
- Moderate
- They prefer a moderate water flow that provides gentle circulation without overwhelming their swimming capabilities. Adequate flow helps transport food particles through the water column, stimulating their natural feeding responses. They appreciate areas of calmer water behind rock structures where they can rest out of the main current. Wavemakers simulating natural reef surges can provide an engaging environment.
- Risque de saut
- Yes
- Dottybacks have a very high propensity for jumping when startled, threatened, or chasing prey near the surface. A tight-fitting aquarium lid or a sturdy mesh screen is absolutely mandatory to prevent tragic losses. Even a slight gap near the filtration returns or overflow box can be enough for them to leap through. Extra care must be taken during tank maintenance or when the lights suddenly turn off.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- They are demersal spawners and have been known to breed in captivity under optimal conditions. The male will entice a female into a secluded cave where she lays a spherical egg mass, which the male then fertilizes and diligently guards. The eggs typically hatch in a few days, releasing pelagic larvae. Rearing the larvae requires specialized setups with rotifers and newly hatched artemia nauplii.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Highly aggressive
- Pseudochromis aurulentus can be fiercely territorial and highly aggressive toward small, docile fish, as well as species with similar body shapes like grammas and other dottybacks. They pose a significant threat to small ornamental shrimp, which they will actively hunt and consume. It is best to house them with larger, more robust tank mates that can hold their own. They are considered safe for corals and sessile invertebrates.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Bottom
- They predominantly inhabit the middle to lower regions of the aquarium, closely associating themselves with the rockwork. They rely heavily on caves, crevices, and overhangs for security and will rarely venture far from these hiding spots. They are adept at darting quickly between rocks to patrol their territory. You will often see them poking their heads out of holes to monitor the tank's activity.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3,4 ± 0,5 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.00501, b = 3.1
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
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