Springer Dottyback

The Springer dottyback is a striking small dottyback with a coal-black body and bright electric blue lines on its head; the blue lines run from around the eye over the top of the head, and the edges of the dorsal and anal fins are also decorated with a thin blue line. It reaches only 5–6 cm and is one of the smallest dottybacks on this site.

It is one of the species bred in aquariums, and a significant share of the specimens in stores are captive-bred. Captive-bred specimens are used to dry food, disease-resistant and suitable for beginners. Its temperament is milder than that of large, tough species such as the neon dottyback, but it is still a territorial dottyback.

It is common on the lagoon and offshore reefs of the Red Sea; it lives between 2 and 60 meters in crevices and holes among the corals. When in danger it darts into its hole in an instant, and it feeds on small crustaceans, worms and plankton.

• Volume: At least 75 liters; it suits nano and small reef aquariums.
• Water: Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Layout: Rock with plenty of crevices and holes; it sits at the mouth of the hole it has chosen and watches its surroundings.
• Reef compatibility: It leaves corals alone. It may hunt very small shrimp such as sexy shrimp and small crustaceans; there is usually no problem with large cleaner shrimp.
• Lid: It can jump; a lid is recommended.

Carnivorous. Offer frozen mysis, brine shrimp, copepods and fine granules. Captive-bred specimens accept granules immediately. Feeding small amounts twice a day is enough.

Active and curious. It defends the area around its hole and may chase fish smaller than itself or of similar shape. Its aggression is lower if it is added as one of the last fish in the aquarium.

Good companions: Clownfish, chromis, damselfish, blennies, tangs, dwarf angelfish, wrasses.

Avoid: Other dottybacks, the royal gramma and similar cave-dwelling fish, very shy species such as the firefish, small ornamental shrimp.

Kept singly. A mated pair can live together in a large aquarium; two unfamiliar individuals, especially two males, fight. Do not put another dottyback species in the same aquarium.

The male prepares his hole as a nest and lures the female there, and the female lays a ball of eggs. The male guards the eggs until they hatch. It is a commercially bred species; raising the fry requires live food cultures.

• Captive-bred specimens are very hardy.
• Marine white spot and velvet: Keep new fish in quarantine.
• Pale coloration is usually a sign of stress or poor nutrition.

There is no reliable external difference. Dottybacks can start as females and change into males; the larger member of a pair is usually the male.