Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
Site Supported in Part by:
RedSea 

Pseudochromis

Pseudochromis fuscus

Muller & Troschel, 1849

Dusky Dottyback, Yellow Dottyback, Brown Dottyback

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Sri Lanka to Vanuatu, north to Hong Kong and Southern Japan, and south to western Australia and southern Great Barrier Reef.

Size: 4 inches (10 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits crevices and ledges among corals in subtidal lagoons and seaward reefs and usually found between depths of 10 to 100 feet (3 – 30 m) where it feeds on small worms and crustaceans/zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade and has several color forms, e.g., overall yellow, brown or grey, all with small blue dots on the central area of each scale.

Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums having some rocky hiding places/crevices to take shelter, as this species is initially secretive, however will become bolder and develop into a fairly good tankmate with other tankmates if they are slightly larger and moderately aggressive. Yet will annoy/pick on smaller fishes.

As to diet, products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods should make up the majority of their diet. Therefore a meaty diet such as enriched chopped fresh fish or shrimp flesh, and/or frozen carnivore foods should be fed once daily.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Percoidei

    Family: Pseudochromidae

    Subfamily: Pseudochrominae

    Genus: Pseudochromis

FYI: Since they are extremely fast moving, if having to remove it from a reef aquarium with many hiding areas, it would be a major task!

One per aquarium.

    Experience Level: Intermediate

    Temperament: Semi-aggressive

    Diet: Carnivore

    Coral Safe: Yes

    Fish Safe: With caution

    Invertebrate Safe: With caution

    Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

    Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

    Tankmates: Larger/moderately aggressive

    Minimum Tank Size: 30+ gallons

    Temperature Range: 72 - 81°F (22 – 27°C)

    Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

    pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Pseudochromis fuscus (Dusky Dottyback, Yellow Dottyback, Brown Dottyback)
Photo © Bob Fenner
Site Supported in Part by:
Two Little Fishies