The Orchid Dottyback, scientifically known as Pseudochromis fridmani, is a brilliantly colored small marine fish prized for its intense violet-purple coloration and manageable adult size. Native exclusively to the Red Sea, this species naturally inhabits reef environments where it is commonly associated with vertical rock faces, overhangs, and small holes and crevices.
Despite its vivid appearance, the Orchid Dottyback remains quite small. The scientifically documented maximum total length is 6.3 cm, approximately 2.5 inches. In its natural habitat it occurs at depths from approximately 1–60 meters.
This specimen is captive bred/tank raised and maintained at Pacific East Aquaculture in dedicated systems separate from our wild-collected fish. Our captive-bred and tank-raised saltwater fish are carefully observed and maintained under professional husbandry protocols prior to sale, without the routine conditioning and proactive treatment protocols used for wild-collected specimens.
Orchid Dottybacks are hardy aquarium inhabitants and readily accept prepared foods. Although territorial behavior can occur, particularly around favored hiding places, this species is considered relatively manageable for a dottyback. ORA describes them as moderately territorial and notes that multiple individuals can sometimes be maintained when adequate hiding spaces are provided.
Care Guide
Scientific Name: Pseudochromis fridmani Klausewitz, 1968
Common Names: Orchid Dottyback, Fridman’s Dottyback
Family: Pseudochromidae
Availability: Captive Bred / Tank Raised
Natural Distribution: Red Sea
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive / moderately territorial
Reef Compatibility: Reef compatible; caution with very small mobile invertebrates
Minimum Aquarium Size: 30 gallons recommended
Maximum Size: Approximately 2.5 inches (6.3 cm total length)
Diet: Carnivorous / zooplanktivorous
Temperature: Approximately 75–79°F
Specific Gravity: 1.023–1.026
pH: 8.1–8.4
Aquarium Requirements:
Provide plenty of rockwork with caves, overhangs, and narrow crevices. This closely reflects the species' natural habitat, where P. fridmani shelters in small holes along vertical reef faces and beneath overhangs.
Temperament:
The Orchid Dottyback can be territorial but is generally considered one of the more manageable dottybacks for community reef aquariums. Territorial disputes are most likely with other dottybacks or fishes competing for similar hiding places. Providing numerous retreats helps minimize conflict.
Reef Compatibility:
Reef compatible. Orchid Dottybacks generally leave corals and other sessile reef invertebrates alone. However, because they are small carnivorous predators, caution is appropriate with very small ornamental crustaceans and other tiny mobile invertebrates.
Diet and Feeding:
Offer a varied diet of appropriately sized meaty marine foods, including mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, krill, finely chopped marine foods, and high-quality marine pellets. In nature they emerge from their reef shelters to capture passing zooplankton, and captive-bred individuals readily adapt to prepared aquarium foods.
