Splendid dottyback
Manonichthys splendens
Also known as Splendid Pseudochromis, Manonichthys Dottyback, Blue-lined Dottyback
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 5.1 in
- 13 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Pseudochromidae
- Origin
- Western Pacific around Indonesia, on coral-rich reef slopes and among rockwork.
Overview
Give it a 200 litre or larger tank with deep rockwork and hiding holes at 24 to 27 C. It leaves corals alone but eats small ornamental shrimp and crustaceans and is highly territorial, so treat it as reef safe with caution and skip small, timid tankmates. Feed meaty foods such as mysis and chopped seafood. A captive bred specimen and a large tank both help keep the aggression manageable.
In the wild
The splendid dottyback is a large dark dottyback with bright yellow fins and long, flowing unpaired fins from Indonesian reefs. It hides in rock holes and defends its patch aggressively. It is a beautiful fish with a real temper. Captive bred fish are noticeably calmer than wild-caught ones.
Good to know
Manonichthys splendens reaches about 13 cm, large for a dottyback, and belongs to a genus of Indo-Pacific dottybacks separate from Pseudochromis. Its long dorsal and anal fins trail behind it as it swims. It hunts small crustaceans from ambush.
Did you know
Its long trailing fins make it look graceful, but it is one of the pushiest dottybacks and will boss much larger fish.
Common questions
What size tank does a Splendid dottyback need?
A Splendid dottyback needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Splendid dottyback need?
A Splendid dottyback is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a Splendid dottyback get?
An adult Splendid dottyback reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
Related species
3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Neon dottyback
Pseudochromis aldabraensis
3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Bicolor dottyback
Pictichromis paccagnellae
2.8 in (7 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Sankey's dottyback
Pseudochromis sankeyi
3.1 in (8 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Sunrise dottyback
Pseudochromis flavivertex
3.1 in (8 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3 in (7.5 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Indigo dottyback
Pseudochromis hybrid
3 in (7.5 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Diadem dottyback
Pseudochromis diadema
2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)