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    Dottybacks

    Royal dottyback

    Pictichromis paccagnellae

    Also sold as Bicolor dottyback, False gramma

    Royal dottyback (Pictichromis paccagnellae), photographed in the sea or an aquarium
    Photo: Jenny Huang, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    Care level
    Intermediate
    Adult size
    7.6 cm in aquariums
    Minimum tank
    114 litres
    Temperament
    Semi-aggressive
    With corals
    Reef safe with caution
    Captive-bred
    Wild-caught (captive-bred rare)
    IUCN status
    Least Concern
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    How do you care for the royal dottyback?

    Semi-aggressive and territorial; defends against much larger fish.

    Feeding

    Carnivore.

    Meaty foods.

    Tank and special needs

    Plan for at least 114 litres of water (the care sheet says 30 US gallons).

    Plenty of caves.

    Why this care level

    Easy to keep, hard to stock around.

    Corals and invertebrates

    Eats small ornamental shrimp (LiveAquaria).

    Which tankmates suit the royal dottyback?

    Confused with the royal gramma; do not keep both. Clashes with other dottybacks and similar shapes. Add last.

    Suggested order in a mixed tank: add last, after the peaceful fish have settled.

    More than one royal dottyback

    Keep one royal dottyback: two of the same species usually fight.

    Other fish

    Checked against the other 59 fish in this guide, assuming a tank big enough for both. Individual fish differ, so treat this as a starting point.

    Avoid together (4)

    • Orchid dottybackDo not mix dottyback species in a home tank; they fight over territory.
    • Magenta dottybackBoth are Pictichromis; close relatives defend the same space and food.
    • Neon dottybackDo not mix dottyback species in a home tank; they fight over territory.
    • Royal grammaThe royal gramma and royal dottyback share the same purple and yellow colours and fight over the same rockwork.
    Usually fine together (55)

    Invertebrates

    Only the invertebrates with a known risk are listed.

    Avoid together (4)

    • Skunk cleaner shrimpRoyal dottyback eats ornamental shrimp such as the skunk cleaner shrimp.
    • Peppermint shrimpRoyal dottyback eats ornamental shrimp such as the peppermint shrimp.
    • Camel shrimpRoyal dottyback eats ornamental shrimp such as the camel shrimp.
    • Harlequin shrimpRoyal dottyback eats ornamental shrimp such as the harlequin shrimp.

    Take care (2)

    • Tiger tail sea cucumberA stressed or dead tiger tail sea cucumber can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.
    • Sea appleA stressed or dead sea apple can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.

    Corals and anemones

    Only the corals and anemones with a known risk are listed.

    Take care (1)

    These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

    Quarantine and health

    Standard.

    New fish are the most common way disease gets into a reef tank. Quarantine every fish in a separate tank before it joins the display, and choose a method that suits its tolerance of copper.

    Captive-bred or wild?

    Mostly wild-caught.

    Name note: Wikipedia uses P. paccagnellorum; FishBase uses P. paccagnellae.

    Sources

    1. LiveAquaria (US retailer) care sheetRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: stats.
    2. FishBase species summaryRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: max length, IUCN.

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    Orchid dottyback

    Pseudochromis fridmani

    Good first fish

    Care
    Beginner
    Adult size
    8 cm
    Tank from
    114 litres
    Temperament
    Mostly peaceful
    Corals
    Reef safe

    Photo Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Magenta dottyback

    Pictichromis porphyrea

    Care
    Intermediate
    Adult size
    8 cm
    Tank from
    114 litres
    Temperament
    Semi-aggressive
    Corals
    Reef safe

    Photo Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0

    Neon dottyback

    Pseudochromis aldabraensis

    Care
    Intermediate
    Adult size
    10 cm
    Tank from
    114 litres
    Temperament
    Semi-aggressive
    Corals
    Reef safe with caution

    Photo Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0