Sankey's dottyback

Care at a glance

Overview

A 110 litre or larger reef with plenty of rock crevices suits it at 24 to 28 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4. It is reef safe and among the most peaceful dottybacks, and a group can be kept if all are added at once. Feed small meaty foods such as mysis and enriched brine, plus prepared foods. Expect it to be shy at first and then spend more time in the open.

In the wild

Sankey's dottyback is a small black-and-white striped fish that, unusually for a dottyback, lives in small colonies among reef rock and plate corals. It hovers near cover and dips back into the rock when startled. It is one of the least aggressive dottybacks. Wild fish shelter under plating corals in the Red Sea.

Good to know

Pseudochromis sankeyi reaches about 8 cm and is one of the few dottybacks that lives in groups rather than solitary territories. This social habit makes it far less aggressive than most of the family. It is now widely captive bred.

Common questions

Related species

• 

  Sunrise dottyback

  Pseudochromis flavivertex

  3.1 in (8 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)

  3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Indigo dottyback

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  3 in (7.5 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)

  3 in (7.5 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Diadem dottyback

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• 

  Orchid dottyback

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  2.8 in (7 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)

  2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Springer's dottyback

  Pseudochromis springeri

  2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)

  2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Neon dottyback

  Pseudochromis aldabraensis

  3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)

  3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)