Lyretail dottyback

Where they come from

Lyretail dottybacks (Pseudochromis steenei) come from reefy rubble zones in the Indo-Pacific, where there are lots of little crevices and overhangs to duck into. That whole lifestyle shows up in the tank: they want a home base, they like to patrol it, and they feel safest when they can vanish into the rockwork on command.

Setting up their tank

Think "rockwork first" with this fish. If you give them a tight maze of holes and ledges, they settle in fast and you see way less attitude. In a bare, open scape they tend to act like they own the whole tank because there is nowhere to break line-of-sight.

• Tank size: I would start at 30 gallons for a single fish. Bigger helps a lot if you want other semi-spicy tankmates.
• Rockwork: build a few distinct cave areas so other fish can avoid the dottyback's favorite corner.
• Flow: moderate is fine. They are perch-and-dart fish, not open-water cruisers.
• Lighting: whatever your reef runs. They do not care much as long as there are shaded spots.
• Cover: keep a lid. Dottybacks can jump, especially right after introduction or during chasing.

Acclimation-wise, I treat them like any other dottyback: slow drip, lights low for a few hours, and feed a little the same day. They usually start hunting around within minutes once they find a cave.

What to feed them

They are eager, meaty eaters. Mine have always eaten like little wolves, and that makes them pretty forgiving as long as you give them variety and do not let the dominant fish hog everything.

• Staples: frozen mysis, brine (better if enriched), chopped krill, finely chopped shrimp/scallop.
• Small foods they love: calanus, copepod blends, finely chopped clam.
• Pellets: most will take small marine pellets once they recognize them as food (soak briefly at first if needed).
• Feeding rhythm: small portions 1-2 times a day. They do better with regular meals than huge dumps of food.

How they behave and who they get along with

Lyretail dottybacks are gorgeous, smart, and kind of bossy. Not "tank terrorist" level like the worst dottybacks can be, but they will absolutely pick on timid fish that hang around their rock.

They do best with tankmates that can handle a little posturing. If you keep them with very peaceful nano fish, you will spend your time wondering why everyone is hiding.

• Generally good tankmates: clowns, most wrasses (especially active ones), dwarf angels, tangs (in appropriate tanks), foxfaces, cardinals (in larger tanks with lots of rock).
• Use caution: firefish, dartfish, small gobies that perch in the same caves, small assessors, very timid blennies.
• Often a bad idea: other dottybacks in small tanks, very similar-shaped fish that want the same crevices, and tiny ornamental shrimp.

Reef safety with corals is usually a non-issue. The real "reef risk" is them hunting pods and tiny crustaceans, and occasionally bullying fish so they do not come out to eat.

Breeding tips

They can spawn in captivity, and the behavior is fun to watch if you ever end up with a bonded pair. Like other pseudochromis, they are cave spawners. The pair will pick a tight nook and guard it.

• Pairing: hardest part. Two random individuals may fight. Best odds are a known pair or starting with juveniles and letting one become dominant.
• Spawning site: a small cave or a short length of PVC tucked into rock works well.
• Conditioning: feed heavier for a couple weeks with lots of meaty frozen foods.
• After eggs: parents will guard them. If you want to raise larvae, you will need a separate larval setup and live foods (rotifers, then copepods/Artemia).

Common problems to watch for

Most issues I have had (or seen friends have) are not because the fish is delicate. They are usually because dottybacks are stubborn little predators with a big personality in a small body.

• Bullying: the big one. Watch for nipped fins, fish that stop coming out, or a single corner of the tank being "owned." Rearranging rockwork can reset territories.
• Jumping: especially right after adding them or during chasing. A tight lid saves fish.
• Feeding aggression: they can outcompete shy fish. Feed in two spots or distract the dottyback first.
• New-fish disease: they can still bring in ich or velvet. Quarantine is worth it if you have other fish you care about.
• Mysteriously missing microfauna: they hunt pods hard. If you rely on pods for a mandarin, plan accordingly.