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
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Pseudochromidae
Origin
Red Sea, endemic

Overview

Springer's dottyback is one of the more active dottybacks, a small reef fish that is engaging to watch. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

Most Springer's dottybacks sold today were born on an aquaculture farm, such as ORA, rather than shipped in from the reef. Wild collection from the Red Sea is limited.

Caring for the Springer's dottyback

Give Springer's dottyback a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L), with plenty of live rock for territory and bolt holes. It spends its day cruising the rockwork rather than lurking in one spot.

Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Offer a varied meaty diet of mysis, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp and other frozen carnivore foods. Feed once or twice a day, in small portions it can finish quickly.

It is territorial and can be aggressive toward its own kind and toward similar-shaped tank mates. Keep one per tank, unless you have a bonded pair or a very large aquarium. Tank-raised stock is considered hardier and calmer than wild-caught fish.

Springer's dottyback is reef safe and leaves corals and invertebrates alone. Breeding it is rated medium.

Good to know

Pseudochromis springeri remains in the original dottyback genus, and it is one of the smaller Red Sea endemics in the family. Its near-black body is traced with electric blue stripes down the head. Like its relatives, it is a protogynous hermaphrodite, and the dominant fish in a pair matures into the male. It also goes by the bluestriped dottyback.

In the wild

Springer's dottyback is endemic to the Red Sea. It lives on lagoon and seaward reefs among coral, at depths of roughly 2 to 60 meters. It patrols its stretch of rockwork rather than hiding for long, though it always keeps an escape hole within reach.

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.

What does a Springer's dottyback eat?

A Springer's dottyback eats a varied meaty diet of mysis, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp and other frozen carnivore foods. Feed it once or twice a day, in small portions it can finish quickly.

How big does a Springer's dottyback get?

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

Related species