Is the Strawberry Dottyback reef safe?

Yes, it is completely safe with all corals and sessile invertebrates. However, it is not considered invert-safe, as it will actively hunt and eat small ornamental shrimp, such as Sexy Shrimp or juvenile cleaner shrimp.

Can I keep more than one Strawberry Dottyback together?

Generally, no. They are highly intolerant of their own kind and will fight relentlessly, often to the death, unless they are a confirmed, bonded male-female pair in a very large aquarium.

Will a Strawberry Dottyback eat my bristleworms?

Yes, they are renowned for hunting small to medium-sized bristleworms, making them a popular choice for biological pest control in reef tanks.

Why is my Strawberry Dottyback always hiding?

It is completely normal for them to hide for the first few days after introduction. Once they have established a territory and feel secure that they have a safe retreat, they will become much bolder and spend more time out in the open.

Can I keep a Strawberry Dottyback with a Royal Gramma?

It is highly risky. Because they share a very similar body shape and colour palette, the Strawberry Dottyback will likely view the Royal Gramma as a direct competitor and aggressively harass it.

MarineMarineIntermediate

Strawberry Dottyback

Pseudochromis porphyreus

A brilliantly coloured, small marine fish renowned for its intense magenta hue and feisty, territorial personality.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 27 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Salinity: 1.02 – 1.025 SG
Adult size: 5 – 6 cm
Minimum volume for a single specimen with territorial boundaries: 100 litres+
Lifespan: 5 – 7 years
Diet: Carnivore
Water flow: Moderate
Preferred setup: Reef or marine fish-only aquarium with extensive live rock formations, crevices, and caves.

About the Strawberry Dottyback

The Strawberry Dottyback is a visually arresting species that delivers an intense pop of solid magenta or pinkish-purple to the marine aquarium. Despite its diminutive adult size of roughly six centimetres, it possesses a larger-than-life personality. It is incredibly robust, adapting quickly to captivity, but its combative nature means it commands respect when stocking the aquarium.

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Is it right for your tank?

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Where Strawberry Dottyback comes from

Native range

Western Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, Ryukyu Islands

Countries / regions

Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, Samoa

Habitat

Inhabits coral reefs and rocky drop-offs, typically hiding within caves, ledges, and tight crevices at depths of up to 65 metres.

Widespread across the western central Pacific Ocean.

Similar species

Orchid Dottyback
Pseudochromis fridmani
Diadem Dottyback
Pseudochromis diadema
Royal Gramma
Gramma loreto

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
Large and assertive enough to completely ignore the dottyback's territorial displays.
Great
Yellowtail Damselfish
Chrysiptera parasema
Robust and feisty enough to hold its own territory without being bullied by the dottyback.
Great
Flame Hawkfish
Neocirrhites armatus
A bottom-dwelling predator that is sturdy and aggressive enough to cohabit safely.
Great
Royal Gramma
Gramma loreto
Shares a similar body shape, colour palette, and ecological niche, which often triggers severe territorial aggression.
Compatible with caution
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
While adult cleaner shrimp are usually safe, freshly molted or smaller individuals may be targeted and eaten.
Compatible with caution
Firefish Goby
Nemateleotris magnifica
Too timid and passive; will likely be harassed constantly, leading to starvation or jumping from the tank.
Not recommended
Green Mandarin
Synchiropus splendidus
A slow, deliberate feeder that will be outcompeted for copepods and actively bullied by the dottyback.
Not recommended

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