View Full Version : Orchid Dottyback
http://www.cyberreefguru.com/120/pics/2002.07.21/fridmani.jpg
Also known as the Fridmani Pseudochromis, the orchid dottyback without a doubt is a true beauty, and has a great personality to boot! This small fish will only attain a length of about 3 inches, which makes it a great fish for any tank over 20 gallons.
The Orchid Dottyback is a reef safe fish though there can be some predation on small bristle worms. They will be out most of the day darting in and out of live rock caves, provided there are no big aggressive fish to chase them. They have amazing personalities and defiantly know who brings the food. They will actually come right up to the front of the glass starring right at you, begging almost, whenever you walk up. These fish unfortunately look somewhat drab in aquarium shops but under reef lighting they almost glow a reddish purple. Amazing color!
Behaviour:
In general dottybacks can be somewhat aggressive when other tank mates cruise near their territory but as long as they have space there shouldn't be much trouble. Purchasing a tank raised specimen or introducing the dottyback last may help in keeping a peaceful aquarium. You can house this fish singly, in a mated pair, or in small groups if there is enough room and live rock. One of the greatest things about the Orchid Dottyback is that if all conditions are correct they can spawn regularly in your aquarium!
Breeding:
Martin Moe's published work is generally well regarded in this field. Captively bred and raised fish are available and tends to fare better than wild caught specimens.
Food:
These fish are plankton feeders, eating really anything that passes by in the water flow. Try flakes as a staple food and use different types of frozen food to mix things up a bit.
Stunning little fish ,any info on how mature a tank (65gal) must be before adding such fish,how hardy are they?
Easty :)
Stunning fish, a recommendation for any reef tank.
Here's one of a pair of tanks bred frids I got from Clayton
Andy
Not a fridmani I admit, but lovely just the same! :D
Brian:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Brian.jpg
Pseudochromis aldabraensis
Nath.
Originally posted by Jevs@Sep 9 2003, 15:51
Stunning fish, a recommendation for any reef tank.
Here's one of a pair of tanks bred frids I got from Clayton
Andy
I have a whole group of them (all from Clayton) - very cute and full of character!
The colour changes are amazing as they go in and out of the rocks and they're radioactive under my evening (actinic) lighting!
As long as the tank's filtration is matured enough to cope with fish then it should be OK as they will readily accept offered food. Though they do love to hunt and pick at the rocks so the more mature the tank is better.
Can even be a first fish, particularly if you get captive bred. C.B. will readily take all foods including dried foods.
There is a two part article I wrote on raising and keeping these in Marine World, the end of 2002 and the begining of 2003 issues.
These fish are actually very peacefull and i have never noticed any agressive behaviour to other species in over 100s of captive bred and wild caught fish. The only real aggression occurs when a male invades another males mating territory. Many males can even be kept together in the same reef system if they are grown up together and it is a reasonable sized system.
One of my favourites. :D
tuan,
Or others,
How does your "swarm" interact......are they solitary, do they pair off or stay in one or more little groups ?
In another direction, I think I recall Clayton recommending that we don't breed from fish he supplies since they are all brothers and sisters.....
Dotty or gramma, dotty or gramma........ :)
kim
Hi Kim,
I thought (like me!) you might be interested in this thread! :)
I gave into temptation and purchased a gramma last Thursday. I'm very pleased with him - but I can't help wondering what an orchid would look like in my tank!
Nick
Thanks for the info guys,i have never seen them in lfs,will have to broaden my search,perhaps a trip south to some larger stores!sounds like a good choice to add in with my first buy(in two weeks time)a pair of perculas.
Easty
Originally posted by kim@Sep 9 2003, 16:31
tuan,
Or others,
How does your "swarm" interact......are they solitary, do they pair off or stay in one or more little groups ?
In another direction, I think I recall Clayton recommending that we don't breed from fish he supplies since they are all brothers and sisters.....
Dotty or gramma, dotty or gramma........ :)
kim
Mine stays in a group, all hovering around the 'home' rock area. There's one solitary one which was added a few months before all the others, but it comes visiting the new play ground often. A little chasing happens but no real aggression.
Its amazing to watch as they instantly disappear into the rocks when spooked ( loony flame angel! ) - then appear again all curious and always hungry.
Just a quickie....even though i've found them totally peaceful, they can more than look after themselves against bigger, more boisterous (not agressive) fish.
Mine are in with a 4" blue throat trigger, a 3" majestic angel, potters angel and small emperor angel, among others.
Superb fish and a big thanx to Clayton for my pair.
Andy
Thanks Tuan !
Nick, yep ! A swarm of grammas (my old love), a swarm of dotties (but wow), a swarm of blue damsels (also wow)......oh crumbs. :)
kim
Edit [Tuan, maybe your flame keeps them in a group ? ]
Marc Foord
10-09-03, 13:49
hi.
i been considering getting a pair of dottys from clayton for some time now.
elliot found his to be quite bullying at times, which made me put it on hold as i don't want to introduce any fish which will cause hassles with what i have currently (yellow tang, regal tang, scarlet hawk, mandarin, scooter blenny, blue damsel, grey sand sifting goby -unknown species-, firefish, algae blenny) - tank is 5 x 2 x x2
i'd appreciate peoples views/experiences on these fish as i am lead to believe the dottys are reef safe and very peaceful...?
cheers, marc
Kevin Douglas
10-09-03, 18:26
Although I do like the Orchid dottyback I still prefer Pseudochromis splendens.
My picture is a bit washed out but in the flesh this fish has some beautiful colours.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Splendid dottiback.jpg
Atb
i would love one of these fish for my reef but i have not seen them for sale in scotland recently .can anyone tell me where i could buy captive bred specimens??
I would love a pair of these guys,does anyone know where i can get a hold of a captive bred pair as i have not seen them for sale in Scotland
Ian Davies
13-09-03, 09:32
One of my pair of dottybacks from Clayton.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Fridmani2.jpg
They do get bullied by a pair of six-line wrasse that were subsequently added to the tank, I guess because both species contain purple colouring and share the same eating habits?
Gary, I will posts you a pair to Scotland when I have some more ready (all the current ones are taken).
Clayton that will be fantastic.Will a pair be ok to keep together?they will be well looked after in my new 130gal reef.When do you think you will have some?
THANKS !!
Hi Gary, sorry for the late reply. Yes a pair will be fine together. They will develop into male and female and spawn if conditions are right.
I have a large new brood of 8 day old larvae at the moment, they are ready to move at 12-14 weeks so should be ready just in time for X-mass.
Happy reefing
Clayton
e98gawthma
18-09-03, 19:21
Lovley fish. got 1 in my tank and is doing good after white spot troubles (New tank) wass 2nd fish to go in. shame they can be a bit reclusive though
davidpatel
28-09-03, 10:27
I got a lovely 1.5" Orchid Dottyback the other day. - Temptation was just too too much. I visited the shop 3 times and each time just stood there looking at this fish, Yesterday I did it. Took out my dosh. Its settled in to the tank.
I've got a lot of reef/LR so its happy, where can I find things about its habbits.
Its seems to hide a lot (although I can't see it to tell if its hiding) I understand it normally sticks itself into rock areas.
What about feeding, When I fed my normal mysis/brineshrimp yesterday it didn't seem to come out and eat. Or am I rushing, as its only been a day since I got it.
David.
Hi David, if this was a wild caught fish it may take a little while to settle down, but if evrything is ok I am sure it is out by now?
clayton where are you based?
Clayton is in Bromley, Kent. Also works at the London Aquarium as a hobby :)
davidpatel
06-10-03, 14:59
Clayton
No, the bugger is only coming out when food falls down near his cave, other than that it doesn't exactly come out as per say. .
Is there anything I can do......
I think its scared of the bigger fish.
ps. I'll have my new smaller tank for "small fish" ready by December.
David.
Quote: Also works at the London Aquarium as a hobby
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
David
Give it time to settle and it'll be fine. Just make sure that some food gets near its "rocks" and it should feed ok.
Once settled, these stunners aren't scared of anything. Mine were put in at about an inch long (bought from Clayton) and adapted immediatly with a large blue throat trigger (5"), a bolshie majestic angel (4") and a host of other fish darting here and there.
Enjoy your frid, they're one of the best m8
Andy
davidpatel
08-10-03, 17:47
Thanks Jevs
I've been doing exactly that. Basically feeding at one end of the tank and then using a dropper to squirt brine towards the areas the dotty hangs around.
funny though, in the last few days the buggers been more risky and seems to be darting out into the open where everything else is, but as soon as something comes its way, its off again.
Your right, it is getting better. Can't wait for it to grow and fatten up. The colour is just unbelievable.
What do you feed yours.
I'm doing cubes of mysis, brine and something called marine mix.
David
My pair are fed the same as the other fish. A mix of brine, mysis, emerald entree, marine cuisine, chopped mussell, small red plankton, large red plankton, octopus, angel formula and marine flake.
Obviously not all at the same time but I usually feed any three of the above at a sitting.
Good luck David, as you say truely stunning fish.
Andy
davidpatel
18-10-03, 16:04
I am greatly saddened. So much i want to throw the towel in.
I've recently noticed the loss of 2 x damsel, 2 x chromis and now I can't see the dotty anymore.
Sure enough last week it was coming out at regular times even with out food in the water. Now I can't see it anymore.
Anyone got any searchout dotty guides....
All thats left is ; Regal tang, purple tang, 2 x striped skunks, emporer angel, copperband, 1 or 2 cleaner shrimp and 1 x black brittle starfish and 1 x sand shifter starfish.
David.
David, don't give up mate, it happens to the all of us, I lost a spectacular male C. jordani (flame wrasse) of a broodstock pair the other week. Jumped out of the tank even though it was 'completely' covered. £100 fish turns into a colourfull waffer! <_<
Find out whats up with your water/environment, if there is anything wrong and I will sort you out a cheap fridmani when the next lot are ready. The tank bred ones are tough as boots. ;)
Gav Cornwall
20-10-03, 17:44
Hi clayton
How much are you selling them for as i would be interested :)
Gav
£35 a pair, £20 each.
Now I must have had 50 emails in the last month just for the dotties (should have run some more broods earlier !! :huh: ), but I am afraid that they will not be any ready until December, to save everybody emailing me to say they want some, I will put a post up just as soon as they are ready to go to new homes.
Many thanks to everybody for the interest.
happy reefing
Clayton :)
Some way back on this thread GaryM asked if he could keep one of your pairs together? You said that one would become male and the other female and possibly breed.
Are these from the same brood stock or do you pair up individuals form different parental lines?
I have two breeding pairs. One wild caught pair and another pair that consists of a wild caught male and a captive bred female (this makes some of the fish you buy F3 generation).
Siblings will still pair up and breed. Offspring from these siblings should not be raised to adulthood. If you wish to raise fridmani seriously I would purchase at least one wild caught specimen.
Michelle56
10-12-03, 21:39
picture?
Here's mine - got it yesterday :wub:
http://www.fponline.f9.co.uk/images/orchiddotty1.jpg
oh, go on then, another picture :)
http://www.fponline.f9.co.uk/images/orchiddotty2.jpg
it's taken a shine to a piece of barnacle cluster I put in the tank :rolleyes: a really beautiful little fish !
Anna
Here's one of the pair I got from Clayton....they are absolutely gorgeous :wub:
Andy
I have a pair from Clayton. They seem to be breeding regularly, although as Clayton suggested I have no intention of raising the fry from this brother and sister pair. They are my favourite fish. Absolutely stunning, very cheekie and always active.
Clayton. Does the male care for the eggs? Reason I ask is that he tends to disappear for a couple of days now and again, usually about the time that the female gets conspicuously slimmer. Also, if I did fancy having a go at raising them I would have to get myself either a non related male or a female. Will I have problems pairing them up (after removing the same-sex one from the existing pair), or are they relatively un fussy?
Cheers
Kev
Hi Kev, glad to hear they are doing well.
Yes it is the male that cares for the eggs. The eggs hatch 4 days after laying, about an hour after the lights go out on the fourth day. The male will spend more time with the eggs as they approach hatching. I have known one of my pairs to spawn again the morning after the previouos brood has hatched but once a week is more normal.
If you are looking to add a wild caught fish then it MUST now be a female, your breeding male will not tollerate a new male now unless you have a large tank (at least a 5x2x2).
Good luck.
Hi Clayton,
is there any "easy" way to tell male from female? as you can see from my post above I purchased one fish but would like to get another to form a pair.
thanks
Anna
Hi Anna
I don't know if the fish differentiate more when they are two-to-a-tank, but mine are very different. I'll try to get some pictures (to go witht he others I am supposed to be getting :) ). Side by side it can be seen that the male is bigger and more muscular behind the head...but this isn't much use if you don't have the pair of the same age to compare. The really obvious difference is that the females tail is quite symetrical from top to bottom, with most of the tial being purple with a narrow clear fringe. The males tail is very asymetrical, with the top half of the tail having a wide clear fringe and the bottom half of the tail being totally purple and the purple extends beyond the top fringe of the tail to produce a long purple point that the male wafts in the females face to impress her. He is also a deeper purple, but like the size thing it is only something you'd notice side by side.
But like I said...I don't know if they are this differentiated as individuals or if they can change sex.
Kev
Hi Kev,
Thanks for that bit of info :D when I got the fish I had thought it's tail looked asymetrical, so I guess I have a male - the purple part doesn't have a clear point though, but maybe that comes with age or when a female is present - after all, no female=no point showing off :lol:
thanks :)
Anna
Hi Clayton
I'm pretty new to this board - are you still supplying these fish m8? :)
If so, have you got any left? Where are you based? Are above prices still the same?? etc...
I have posted details of my tank in newcomers forum recently - suitable for a pair? or just one....
Thanks B)
Sorry, the tail doesn't have a clear point, but a purple point.
I've attached a scetch (don't laugh...my graphics abilities are abismal)
edit: as is my spelling
sorry from me as well, I meant a clearly defined point as apposed to a clear in colour point :lol:
but after viewing that picasso type masterpiece I conclude that I have a male :P
Anna
Originally posted by annastep@Dec 19 2003, 10:58
sorry from me as well, I meant a clearly defined point as apposed to a clear in colour point :lol:
that made me chuckle......communication breakdown :lol:
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I can think of one word that describes my picture.......c**p
hey...wodaya mean picasso :) It might be bad but I didn't think it looked like it had been run over ;)
Hi folks, just to let you know that I have seperated off 30 fridmani for people on the web sites that asked for them.
They have just gone through the larval stage and are now minature adults but they still need to grow on for several weeks to get to a competant size before they can be re-homed. So please DO NOT email me yet :)
As soon as they are a good size I will post another note, then it will be first come first serve. Those that can collect can get theres first and then I will sort out getting others mailed out to those that live too far away.
Unfortunately the price has gone up slightly due to the mounting costs and time they need to raise them. They are now £25 each.
I would imagine that delivery would be around £15 but I might be able to get it done for under £10 but I have to check out a few things first.
I will post again a couple of weeks before they are ready to go.
Many thanks and happy reefing
clay
Hi folks, the Fridmani are almost ready now and so people can start to arrange getting them from me by COLLECTION ONLY for now. after the collections have been done we will move onto mail order, but for now please do not email if you cannot collect. I am in Bromley, London.
The juveniles are an inch long and growing quickly, they will be 3-4cm by mid Feb.
They are £25 each.
Has anyone had any experience of adding a dotty to a tank(6x2x2.5) which has a resident dotty, that has been there for 18 months.
I really like this fish and would love another, is it possible? or will all hell break out?
frankyfatlips
26-12-09, 16:10
can someone help im new to keepimg a reef tank and im finding it hard to get help in scotland and just getting advice on finding good stock for my tank at the min.. im after a cupple orchid dottybacks can you help kind regards frank
Orchids often turn up at various stores up here, chiefly CRA in Glasgow - where we got ours, but also UDA (Cupar) and ELA (Macmerry). CRA did have two in within the last two weeks, Julie would have no problem getting another two.
Just noticed your location, Calico (Penrith) or the Dumfries store might be better options if you don't want an expedition.
Theres a section in local clubs - Scottish Reefers - where you can also ask for help.
frankyfatlips
27-12-09, 00:17
how do you sex orchids as iv heard they can change sex and do you have to get young fish and let them pair up
There's still more questions than answers, have a read:
http://www.breedersregistry.org/Reprints/FAMA/v19_june96/dotty.htm
May be worth pming Wombat - Ian is a fish disease biologist and knows a fair bit about orchids.
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