All fish / Pseudochromidae

Green Dottyback

Pseudochromis viridis

Also known as christmas island dottyback, green christmas island dottyback, neon green dottyback, viridis dottyback, グリーンドティーバック, 绿草莓

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A slender dottyback with a vivid emerald green body and fine blue edging on the fins. It is prized for its striking colour and hardy nature, and it is generally reef safe, often picking off small pests among the rockwork.

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, small meaty frozen foods and quality pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Christmas Island, eastern Indian Ocean

Breeding

Pairs spawn a ball of eggs in a cave and the male guards them until they hatch after about four to five days. Captive spawning is achievable, but rearing the tiny larvae needs rotifers and is challenging.

Good to know

Like most dottybacks it can be territorial towards similar sized, similarly shaped fish and other dottybacks, so add it last and give plenty of caves. It is rarely exported because of its remote range and tends to be expensive.