Sunrise Dottyback

The sunrise dottyback takes its name from the colors of a "sunrise": a bright blue body, a vivid yellow stripe that starts at the snout and runs along the back to the tail, and a yellow tail; its belly is whitish. "Flavivertex" in its scientific name also means "yellow-crowned". It reaches about 7 cm. Like the orchid dottyback, which has its own page on this site, it comes from the Red Sea.

Most specimens in stores are aquarium-bred. Captive-bred specimens take to dry food immediately, are very disease-resistant and are suitable for beginners. Its temperament is milder than that of tough species such as the neon dottyback, but it is still a territorial fish that defends its own corner.

It lives in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at depths of 2–30 meters. Unlike many other dottybacks, it is found at the base of small rocks and coral heads on sandy bottoms; when in danger it retreats into holes under the rock. It feeds on small crustaceans, worms and plankton.

• Volume: At least 110 liters.
• Water: Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Layout: Groups of rocks sitting on a sand substrate, with holes and crevices; each fish should have a hiding place of its own.
• Reef compatibility: It leaves corals alone. It may hunt small ornamental shrimp such as sexy shrimp; large cleaner shrimp are usually safe. It reduces bristle worms.
• Lid: Dottybacks can jump; a lid is recommended.

Carnivorous. Offer frozen mysis, brine shrimp, copepods and quality granules. Captive-bred specimens accept granules immediately. Feed small amounts twice a day; enriched frozen foods keep the blue and yellow bright.

Territorial but not excessively aggressive. It chases fish of similar size and shape that enter the area around its hole. It fits in more easily if it is one of the last fish added to the aquarium.

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

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

Kept singly. A pair can live together in a very large aquarium, but the individuals should be added at the same time and there should be plenty of hiding places. Do not put another Pseudochromis species in the same aquarium.

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

• Captive-bred specimens are very hardy.
• Marine white spot and velvet: Quarantine new fish for 3–4 weeks.
• Pale coloration is usually a sign of stress or poor nutrition.

There is no reliable external difference. Bidirectional sex change has been confirmed in this species: depending on conditions, a female can turn into a male and a male into a female. For this reason, two individuals that come together can usually form a pair.