All fish / Pseudochromidae

Orangetail Dottyback

Pseudochromis coccinicauda

Also known as orange tail dottyback, yellowtail dottyback, red tail dottyback, scarlet tail dottyback, orangetail dottyback, オレンジテール・ドティーバック, 橙尾准雀鲷

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A small, slim dottyback whose males show a dusky blue to grey body with a bright orange or yellow rear and tail, while females are duller. It is kept for its colour, hardiness and reef-safe nature with corals, spending its time darting in and out of rockwork.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

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 mated pair in a larger tank

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, Andaman Sea, northern Australia

Breeding

Pairs spawn in caves, with the female laying a ball of eggs that the male guards until hatching after a few days. Spawning happens fairly readily in aquariums, but raising the tiny larvae on rotifers is challenging.

Good to know

Like most dottybacks it can be territorial and may bully small, timid or similar-shaped fish, and it may eat tiny shrimps. Supply plenty of rock caves and add it last to a community tank.