Purple Stripe Dottyback - Medium

The Purple Stripe Dottyback gets its name from the purple stripe that runs along its body. Starting at its head, this purple band travels along the top of its body to the rear of its dorsal fin. The rest of its body is yellow, apart from a blue ring around its eye, and its fins are transparent.

This species is hermaphroditic, females can change sex to male, but can't change back. When attempting to breed them, the tank should be sufficiently large. The two Purple Striped Dottybacks in the tank should be of different sizes. Once the male has attracted a female to his cave or crevice she will spawn. The male will guard and aerate the eggs until they hatch. The young will be larvae for around one month and need to be fed enriched live food such as rotifers and brine shrimp.

The natural environment for Purple Stripe Dottybacks is in the Indo-Pacific. They are native to Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. They can be found on reefs where coral is abundant, between depths of 5-30 metres.

Tank Recommendations for Purple Stripe Dottyback

Tank size needs to be at least 114 litres (30 gallons).

Purple Stripe Dottybacks can be housed in nano, reef, or fish-only aquariums. They need plenty of live rock, which should be arranged to create a variety of hiding places.

They are active fish and need open space in the tank for swimming. Lighting should be good, as they inhabit quite shallow water in their natural habitat.

Suitable Tank Buddies

Purple Stripe Dottybacks are an aggressive species. They aren't suitable for a peaceful community tank. Larger more aggressive fish are better companions.

Adding other fish before the Purple Stripe Dottyback is advised to avoid issues.

Usually Compatible

Suitable companions are larger semi-aggressive and aggressive fish that won't get bullied. Good tanks buddies include Angelfish, Tangs, large Damselfish, Hawkfish, Parrotfish, and Squirrelfish.

Sometime Compatible

Conspecifics may need monitoring, as well as species that are a similar shape and size. Care should also be taken with Batfish, Cardinalfish, Hogfish, and Wrasses.

Rarely Compatible

Small peaceful fish such as Gobies, Assessors, Fairy Wrasses, and Dartfish. Slow movers such as Seahorses and Pipefish, are also unsuitable. Larger predators that can swallow Dottybacks whole are a threat. These include Eels, Anglerfish/Frogfish, Groupers, Sharks, and Rays.

Feeding Your Purple Dottyback