Are Purple Dottybacks OK?

[Domino]

Hi Guys!

My GF absolutely wants a purple fish in the tank... I read that Purple Dottybacks are reefsafe, but that they can become a behavioural problem with other fish. Do they really get nasty?

Currently I have 5 chromis, 2 banggai, 1 BT, 1 yellow wrasse and one YTdamsel in my 4ft tank.

for sharing!

[Achilles Tang]

They are mainly aggressive to their own kind and other species of fish that look similar to them, in terms of body shape.

It's better to keep one to a tank.

[Chris]

Besides keeping only one, it is also not a good choice if you intend to keep anthias in the future. May also hunt some shrimps.

Go for the Firmani. It is purple and more peaceful.

[Domino]

Thanks a lot guys!!

It should be OK then... The only LS I still intend to add is a pair of clownfish and that will be it.

Cool. My GF will be happy!

[patrick123]

Yeah my half purple/half yellow dottyback is quite agressive. Even attack my goby which is not even the same color. I'm a little worry how to add my anthias. A bit regret added it.

[istdrive]

My purple dotty attacks everything, fish or shrimps. I think it can cause fatal harm to very small shrimps like anemone shrimps. Otherwise it is such an interesting fish that behaves very curiously and intelligently. It's ###### expression is quite interesting to watch.

[terryansimon]

purple frimanis are harmless. and they have a cool looking black slash thing around their eyes.

[jesperlam]

Hey i got that!!! Pui Pui now in my tank...biggest bully too. Always chasing after my yellow wrasse...but my wrasse dun even bother abt it...

[terryansimon]

oh whoops. I haven't been completely honest.

I have a pair of these fishes in my tank *refer to above picture*. both of them hunted my Royal Gramma till it curled up and died.

so. urh. be careful.

[rockfish]

my dotty back murdered my anthia in just 48 hrs ... and it is serving its sentence in the sump... life sentence!!

[Domino]

Thanks for all the answers...

had read about purple frimanis and thought they make a better choice for a relatively peacefull tank like mine.

Added the purple dottyback. Got bullied a bit by the damsel in the first few hours but now seems to be doing ok, minding its own business and eating well. And we got a purple fish in the tank now... ;-)