All fish / Pseudochromidae

Tauber's Dottyback

Pseudochromis tauberae

Also known as tauber's dottyback, tauberae dottyback, taubera dottyback, yellow-tail dottyback

No free-to-use photo of this fish yet. Took one yourself? Send it to us and we will credit you.

This small dottyback has a slender body that is greyish to brownish with blue edging on the fins and often a yellowish tail. It comes from coral reefs and slopes around the Philippines and Indonesia and is kept for its bold character in reef tanks with plenty of rockwork.

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; one per tank unless it is a proven pair

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Philippines and Indonesia

Breeding

Pairs spawn in caves, laying a ball of eggs that the male guards until they hatch. Captive breeding of dottybacks is possible but the tiny larvae need rotifers and copepods, so it is a project for experienced keepers.

Good to know

Like most dottybacks it can be territorial towards small, similarly shaped fish and may eat tiny shrimps. It is rarely seen in the trade, so check the identity because similar Pseudochromis species are often sold under loose names.