Blackstripe Dottyback
Pseudochromis nigrovittatus
A small, hardy marine fish native to the Western Indian Ocean, characterized by a bold black lateral stripe and a highly territorial temperament among rocky crevices.
Température de l’eau
22 - 26 °C
Valeur du pH
8.1 - 8.4
Type d'eau
Marin
Niveau dans le bac
Fond et milieu
Taille adulte
8 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 100 L
Groupe minimal
>= 1
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: This marine species is native to the Western Indian Ocean, particularly concentrated in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. It primarily inhabits shallow coral reefs, rocky crevices, and rubble zones where it can easily seek shelter.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Belonging to the family Pseudochromidae under the genus Pseudochromis. This species features a slender, elongated, and compressed body shape, reaching a maximum adult size of approximately 8 centimeters.
Social Behavior: It is highly territorial and displays active aggression, especially toward conspecifics or tankmates with similar shapes and colors. They dominate small caves and guard their territories fiercely.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The body displays a pale cream to light grey background color, highlighted by a prominent dark black stripe running horizontally from the snout, through the eye, to the caudal fin. Sexual dimorphism is minimal, though adult males may be slightly larger.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: An aquarium of at least 100 liters is recommended. Provide extensive live rock structures with plenty of caves, holes, and hiding spots to allow this fish to establish its preferred territory.
Diet and Feeding: Carnivorous by nature. In captivity, it readily accepts high-quality frozen foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, chopped krill, and premium marine pellets or flakes.
Water Quality: Keep standard marine parameters stable: temperature range of 22.0 to 26.0 °C, pH values of 8.1 to 8.4, and a specific gravity of 1.020 to 1.025. A good skimmer and filtration are highly recommended.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Best housed with larger or semi-aggressive fish like damselfish, wrasses, and tangs. Avoid keeping them with small, peaceful gobies or passive bottom-dwellers that could be bullied.
Aquarium Breeding: Extremely challenging in home aquariums. They are cave spawners where the male protects the egg mass. Rearing the tiny pelagic larvae requires specialized live food cultures.
Risks and Diseases: Known to be an active jumper, especially when startled or chased by tankmates. A tightly fitting lid or screen cover is an absolute necessity to prevent fatal jumps.
Origine et répartition géographiques
This marine species is native to the Western Indian Ocean, particularly concentrated in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. It primarily inhabits shallow coral reefs, rocky crevices, and rubble zones where it can easily seek shelter.
Origine
Océans tropicaux et récifsAsie du Sud et du Sud-Est
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Territorial
- They exhibit a bold, aggressive, and highly territorial temperament. They act much larger than their physical size and are not afraid to challenge bigger intruders. Their feisty personality requires careful selection of tank mates but makes them a lively addition to the right setup.
- Régime alimentaire
- Carnivore
- A varied, meaty diet is essential to keep this active predator healthy and colorful. They should be fed a mix of frozen mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, and chopped marine meats. High-quality carnivore pellets are a good supplement but should not replace frozen or live foods.
- Espérance de vie
- 5-7 years
- Taille adulte
- 8 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Solitary
- They should strictly be kept individually due to severe, often lethal, conspecific aggression. Two males or unsexed individuals will fight relentlessly until one is killed. Only confirmed, bonded pairs should be kept together, and only in a sufficiently large aquarium.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- To support their high metabolism, feed them small portions two to three times a day. Frequent feedings help keep their energy levels up and can slightly reduce their aggressive tendencies. Ensure all food is consumed within a few minutes to prevent it from fouling the water.
- Charge biologique
- Low to Medium
- This fish has a moderate bioload that is straightforward to manage in an established aquarium. Their carnivorous diet means they produce protein-rich waste, requiring effective skimming and biological filtration. Regular maintenance and water changes will easily mitigate their impact on water quality.
- Courant
- Moderate
- Pseudochromis nigrovittatus needs steady, moderate circulation distributed across the aquarium rather than a narrow, forceful jet. An aquarium of at least 100 liters is recommended. Provide extensive live rock structures with plenty of caves, holes, and hiding spots to allow this fish to establish its preferred territory. This preserves useful water exchange while retaining calmer shelter for rest and feeding.
- Risque de saut
- Yes
- Like all dottybacks, they are excellent jumpers and represent a significant escape risk. A tight-fitting lid or fine mesh screen is an absolute necessity to keep them safely in the tank. Jumping is often triggered by startling movements or aggression from other fish.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Captive breeding is possible but represents a significant challenge for the aquarist. The male will prepare a nesting cave and aggressively guard the eggs until the larvae hatch. Raising the microscopic fry is the hardest part, requiring specialized live foods like rotifers.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Verify
- They are semi-aggressive and will vigorously defend their chosen territory in the live rock. They should not be kept with peaceful, timid, or slow-moving fish, which they will inevitably harass. They fare best when housed with robust tank mates like dwarf angelfish, tangs, and larger wrasses.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle/Bottom
- They are predominantly bottom to mid-level dwellers, relying heavily on the live rock structure. They establish a specific cave or crevice as their home base and patrol the surrounding area. They rarely venture into the open, upper regions of the water column.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3,5 ± 0,5 se
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.00501, b = 3.1
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
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