dottybacks in aquaculture
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Dottybacks in AquacultureAnna HawkinsDISL Aquaculture 2013
What are dottybacks?• Ornamental aquarium
fish
• Family Pseudochromidae▫ Genus Pseudochromis
• Found wild in coral reefs
• Aquaculture = CHEAPER
Orchid dottyback, A. fridmani
Typical behavior• Territorial of
preferred home
• Tankmates determine aggressiveness
• May eat certain tankmates
• Hermaphroditic
Aquacultured Species• Neon dottyback
• Scientific name: P. aldabraensis
• Aggressive – eats small fish and ornamental shrimp
Aquacultured Species• Diadema dottyback
• Scientific name: P. diadema
• Semi-aggressive
• Needs lots of hiding spots
Aquacultured Species• Elongate dottyback
• Scientific name: P. elongatus
• Much less aggressive
• Rarer variety
Aquacultured Species• Sunrise dottyback
• Scientific name: P. flavivertex
• Moderately aggressive and territorial
Aquacultured Species• Orchid dottyback
• Scientific name: A. fridmani
• Territorial
• More popular variety
Aquacultured Species• Magenta dottyback
• Scientific name: P. porphyreus
• Similar to orchid dottyback
Aquacultured Species• Striped dottyback
• Scientific name: P. sankeyi
• Tend to live in colonies; less aggressive
Aquacultured Species• Indigo dottyback
• Scientific name: P. fridmani x sankeyi
• Retains mild behavior of striped dottyback
Aquacultured Species• Bicolor dottyback
• Scientific name: P. paccagnellae
• Aggressive and territorial
Aquacultured Species• Splendid dottyback
• Scientific name: M. splendens
• May eat small crustaceans
• Somewhat aggressive towards other fish
Aquacultured Species• Springeri dottyback
• Scientific name: P. springeri
• Aggressive to conspecifics
Aquacultured Species• Black margin
dottyback
• Scientific name: P. tapeinosoma
• Very aggressive to conspecifics
Prices and where to buy them• Wild-caught very
expensive
• Price varies by species
• Most pet stores in the U.S. or online
Reproduction, Life Cycle, and Production Methods
• No more than one mated pair per tank!
• Females spawn 2-4 times per month
• Males care for eggs
Reproduction, Life Cycle, and Production Methods
• Females deposit egg mass in male’s nest
• Male intensively cares for eggs
• Eggs hatch in evening of 5th day after spawning
Orchid dottyback egg
Reproduction, Life Cycle, and Production Methods
• Larvae are completely transparent
• Kept separate from adults
• Very active and use entire water column
• Grow very quickly if fed and housed correctly
Extreme closeup of a dottyback larva
Reproduction, Life Cycle, and Production Methods
• Day 9 – slight coloration
• Day 20 – presettlement juveniles, not larvae
• Day 25-30 – juveniles begin to settle out
• Need hiding places to complete metamorphosis
Juvenile dottybacks with hiding places, around 25-30 days old
Reproduction, Life Cycle, and Production Methods
• Adult coloration develops within 7 days
• Don’t leave hiding place – eat whatever floats by
• Transferred to grow out tank after metamorphosis
• Rapid growth
Juvenile dottybacks showing adult coloration
Feeds and Feeding• Foods high in natural
pigments preferable
• Frozen plankton, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, bloodworms, pellets and flakes are all good
• Live rock helps diet!
• Will supplement provided feed
Neon dottyback, P. aldabraensis
Water Chemistry and Environment• Salt water REQUIRED!
• Need hiding places and low light
• pH = 8.1-8.4
• Alkalinity = 124-214 ppm
• Temp = 22-26 ºC
• Specific Gravity = 1.02-1.025
Springeri dottyback, P. springeri
Advantages Disadvantages• Not picky eaters
• Hardy
• Adults are easy to care for
• Pretty!
• Can be very aggressive and territorial
• Lose coloration if not fed properly
• Not super easy to grow
Sources• http://www.orafarm.com/products/fish/dottybacks/• http://www.aquacon.com/basslets_saltwaterfish.html• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dottyback• http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-02/hcs3/• http://www.tfhmagazine.com/details/articles/
dottybackschoose-carefully.htm• http://www.saltwaterhub.com/Dottyback.shtml• http://breedersregistry.org/Reprints/FAMA/
v19_june96/dotty.htm• http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?
sid=3237
Questions?
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