All fish / Pseudochromidae

Gold-lined dottyback

Pseudochromis aureolineatus

Also known as golden-lined dottyback, goldline dottyback, gold line dottyback, aureolineatus dottyback

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This small dottyback has a bright yellow body with thin golden or bluish lines running along its sides. It lives on deeper reef slopes and rubble and is not often seen in the trade. Keepers value it for its colour and because it stays small enough for modest reef tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Keep singly, or as a confirmed pair in a larger tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, quality marine pellets and frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Indian Ocean: Comoros, Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar

Breeding

Like other dottybacks it lays a ball of eggs in a cave, and the male guards them until they hatch. Captive breeding has been achieved in related species but is rarely reported for this one, and rearing the tiny larvae needs live rotifers and a lot of effort.

Good to know

It can be territorial towards other dottybacks and small, similarly shaped fish, so give it plenty of rockwork and add it last. It is reef safe with corals but may eat very small shrimps.