All fish / Pseudochromidae

Sunrise Dottyback

Pseudochromis flavivertex

Also known as sunrise dottyback, yellow-backed dottyback, blue and yellow dottyback, flavivertex dottyback, sunrise pseudochromis, yellow top dottyback, サンライズドティーバック, 日出准雀鲷, 黄顶拟雀鲷

This slender dottyback has a bright yellow stripe running along its back and head, set against a vivid blue body and belly. It is popular because it is hardy, colourful and one of the less aggressive dottybacks, and it is reef safe with corals.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

7 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

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

Breeding

Pairs lay a ball of eggs in a cave, which the male guards until they hatch after about four to five days. Captive-bred fish are produced commercially, and home breeding is possible though rearing the tiny larvae on rotifers takes effort.

Good to know

Can be territorial towards other dottybacks and small, similarly shaped fish, so add it last and provide plenty of rockwork. It may eat very small shrimps.