Dottybacks · Pseudochromidae
Care levelBeginner
Indigo Dottyback
Pseudochromis fridmani × Pseudochromis sankeyi
Captive-bred Indigo hybrid, rich indigo-blue body with bold black horizontal stripe through eye and midflank, darker navy back, blue-violet lower flanks and dark blue translucent fins. This is a named captive-bred hybrid form, not a separate species. A cave-dwelling carnivore that needs shelter and thoughtful introductions.
A sheltered aquarium and appropriate foods can suit this fish, but territorial behavior still needs observation and a separation plan.
Recommendation
Would you recommend this fish for a suitable saltwater aquarium?
30+ galRecommended tank
3 inchesAdult size
Semi-aggressive / territorialTemperament
Generally compatibleCoral safety
+ Why you’ll love them
- Distinctive Indigo appearance.
- Rockwork and sheltered crevices provide natural cover.
- Suitable marine meaty foods can support a varied captive diet.
! Things to consider
- May defend caves and chase smaller fish.
- Small crustaceans may be eaten; ornamental shrimp require caution.
- Hybrid behavior and adult size can vary; parentage does not guarantee compatibility.
Tank and habitat
- Recommended volume
- 30 US gallons or larger; allow for stocking and layout.
- Full-grown size
- 3 inches (maximum adult size)
- Tank footprint and swimming space
- Use a tank with substantial horizontal rockwork, multiple shaded caves and broken sight lines. Distribute shelters rather than creating one contested cave. Group stocking may need much more room than the individual reference.
- Tank maturity
- Use a fully cycled, stable marine aquarium with established shelter and filtration. No dependable species-specific month threshold is established here; age alone does not prove readiness. Suggested tank age is a planning guide, not proof of readiness. Complete cycling, stable water and the right food supply are essential.
- Habitat and equipment
- Secure porous rockwork, shaded crevices, unobstructed feeding access and suitable flow. Cover escape openings and protect intakes. Retain several escape routes for less assertive inhabitants.
Care and compatibility
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive / territorial
- Why this care level
- A sheltered aquarium and appropriate foods can suit this fish, but territorial behavior still needs observation and a separation plan.
- Suitable tank mates and conflicts
- Semi-aggressive / territorial: may chase small or timid gobies, firefish, basslets and similar crevice-dwelling fish. Use compatible, appropriately sized tank mates and separated refuges.
- Alone, pair or group
- One individual is the simpler plan. Do not assume a random pair, a large group or different dottyback species will coexist. Shared hybrid parentage does not make two fish a compatible pair. Use a confirmed pair only with suitable expert guidance and separate if necessary.
Corals and invertebrates
- Coral safety
-
Generally compatible
Generally compatible with coral tissue. Coral safety does not mean compatibility with all fish or invertebrates; monitor the individual. - Shrimp safety
-
With caution
Small shrimp and other crustaceans may be eaten. Adult ornamental shrimp still require caution, especially when molting. Do not rely on this fish for guaranteed pest control. - Snail safety
-
Generally compatible
Established shelled aquarium snails are generally compatible; tiny invertebrates and larvae may be eaten. - Clam safety
-
Generally compatible
Generally compatible with clam tissue. Observe individual behavior and ensure that clam requirements are met independently.
Food and feeding
- Diet
- Carnivore; varied marine meaty foods
- Feeding plan
- Offer appropriately sized, varied marine meaty meals in small portions multiple times daily. Make sure food reaches the rockwork without leaving excessive waste. Confirm actual intake and body condition.
- Prepared or live food
- Mysis, enriched brine shrimp and finely chopped suitable marine seafood; quality carnivore pellets or flakes if the individual accepts them. Obtain the seller’s established feeding routine.
Water conditions
- Temperature
- 72–78 °F (22–26 °C). This is a general tropical dottyback aquarium reference, not a measured species-specific tolerance limit. Maintain stability and consider every inhabitant.
- Specific gravity
- Specific gravity 1.020–1.025 is the tropical fish-care reference used here. Also meet the needs of corals and other invertebrates; avoid abrupt changes.
- pH
- pH 8.1–8.4. Keep conditions stable and monitor alkalinity rather than making abrupt corrections.
Long-term care
- Lifespan
- The sources used here do not establish a dependable typical captive lifespan for this entry. Plan for long-term care rather than an invented numerical average.
- Growth and future planning
- ORA gives a maximum around 3 inches. Thirty gallons is an editorial individual planning reference, not a tested hybrid-specific minimum. The displayed size is a planning value, not a claim of a measured hybrid or species maximum.
Before you buy
- Is this fish right for your tank?
- 30 US gallons is an editorial individual planning reference; a validated species-specific minimum is not established in the cited material. Semi-aggressive / territorial: may chase small or timid gobies, firefish, basslets and similar crevice-dwelling fish. Use compatible, appropriately sized tank mates and separated refuges.
- Buying checklist
- Confirm Pseudochromis fridmani × Pseudochromis sankeyi and the named captive-bred form, observe feeding, inspect fins and breathing, and obtain origin and feeding details. A captive-bred Orchid × Striped Dottyback hybrid. Electric Indigo is a selected form of the same parent cross, not a second biological species. Plan quarantine before introduction.
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