Comet dottyback

This species is native to the tropical waters of the Western Indo-Pacific, with localized populations found in the coral reefs of southern Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and the Philippines. It inhabits seaward reef slopes and vertical drop-offs rich in caves, crevices, and small fissures at depths ranging from 10 to 35 meters. It prefers shaded areas where currents bring abundant zooplankton.

Belonging to the family Pseudochromidae, Pseudochromis cometes features an elongated, moderately compressed body typical of cave-dwelling fish. The head is rounded with large, prominent eyes providing excellent binocular vision to detect small prey. Adults reach a maximum total length of approximately 7 centimeters, keeping a very compact size.

It is a solitary and highly territorial fish. It fiercely defends its cave and the surrounding immediate area against conspecifics and fish with similar shapes or coloration. It spends most of its time within or close to its rocky shelter, making rapid darts to capture food before quickly retreating back to safety.

The coloration is highly attractive, dominated by bluish-purple tones on the body, with a characteristic yellow or orange longitudinal stripe running along the back and extending into the caudal fin. The eyes feature a bright electric blue iris. No visible external sexual dimorphism exists, although dominant males may be slightly larger.

Requires a marine aquarium of at least 150 liters for a single specimen. The setup must feature a complex live rock structure with numerous small caves, crevices, and swim-throughs. This allows the fish to establish its territory and feel secure, which significantly reduces its natural territorial aggression toward tankmates.

A carnivorous predator. In the wild, it feeds on small crustaceans, zooplankton, and worms. In captivity, it readily accepts high-quality frozen foods like mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, copepods, and lobster eggs. Over time, it will eat small-sized dry pellets. It can be useful in controlling small bristleworms and flatworms.

Requires stable and clean water parameters: temperature between 24°C and 27°C, pH range from 8.1 to 8.4, specific gravity (SG) between 1.020 to 1.025, and carbonate hardness (KH) of 8 to 12 dKH. Maintain low nitrate levels (under 20 ppm) with regular water changes and efficient filtration. Highly oxygenated water is preferred.

While peaceful toward larger fish, it will display strong aggression toward conspecifics, other dottybacks, and small fish with similar body shapes (such as gobies or firefish). It is completely reef safe. It coexists well with tangs, clownfish, and larger wrasses. Introduce it last to minimize territorial claims.

Captive breeding in home aquariums is extremely difficult and has only been achieved by professional breeders. They are hermaphrodites and form pairs only for spawning. The male guards the egg mass inside his cave until hatching. The larvae are microscopic and require rotifer cultures and strictly controlled environments.

A very hardy species that rarely gets sick if provided with a suitable environment and enough hiding spots. The primary risk is stress from larger predators or overly aggressive fish, which may cause it to jump out of the tank. A tight-fitting lid or a protective mesh cover is mandatory to prevent losses.