TankBud

Springer's dottyback

Pseudochromis springeri

Also known as Bluestriped Dottyback, Springeri Dottyback, Springeri Pseudochromis

SaltwaterFish

Springer's dottyback (Pseudochromis springeri)
PilarMeca · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Own kind
One male per tank
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Pseudochromidae
Origin
Red Sea, endemic

Overview

This is one of the more active, visibly busy dottybacks, spending its day cruising the rockwork rather than lurking in one spot, which makes it an engaging fish to watch. It is territorial and can be aggressive toward its own kind and toward similar-shaped tankmates, so keep one per tank unless you have a bonded pair or a very large aquarium. It is reef safe and leaves corals and invertebrates alone. Offer a varied meaty diet of mysis, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, and other frozen carnivore foods once or twice a day in small portions it can finish quickly.

In the wild

Endemic to the Red Sea, where it lives on lagoon and seaward reefs among coral at depths of roughly 2 to 60 meters. It is an active, constantly moving fish that patrols its stretch of rockwork rather than hiding for long, though it always keeps an escape hole within reach. A tank of 75 liters or more with plenty of live rock gives it the territory and bolt holes it wants.

Good to know

Pseudochromis springeri remains in the original dottyback genus and is one of the smaller Red Sea endemics in the family, topping out around 6 cm. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite like its relatives, and the dominant fish in a pair matures into the male. Because Red Sea collection is limited, most fish sold today are captive bred, commonly by aquaculture facilities such as ORA, and tank-raised stock is considered hardier and calmer than wild-caught fish.

Did you know

Its near-black body traced with electric blue stripes down the head is a genuine Red Sea original, and because wild collection from the Red Sea is limited, most springer's dottybacks sold today were actually born on an aquaculture farm rather than shipped in from the reef.

Common questions

What size tank does a Springer's dottyback need?

A Springer's dottyback needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Springer's dottyback need?

A Springer's dottyback is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

How big does a Springer's dottyback get?

An adult Springer's dottyback reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

Related species