Neon Dottyback companion

[mynewbaby]

Ok, I need some help with fish selection. I have a 34 gallon RSM. It is a Reef tank and I have a Pajama Cardinal and a neon Dotty back. I know that Neon dotty backs can be aggressive but when I got him ,he was with a fire fish and all three of the fish got along great. Well, after a tank move, I lost my fire fish. So now I want to add another fish or two and I'm not sure what to add. I had planned on adding a pair of Clownfish but I'm worried that the dotty back will pick on them. Are there any clowns that will do ok with both the Dottyback and the cardinal? Any other fish suggestions?

 

Thanks for the help

[rone_kevin66]

If your looking for clown fish try and find a bonded pair of maroon. They are one of the most aggressive clowns and should be fine.

[pntbll687]

I had a just a black clown in a 8g tank with a neon dotty back in an 8g tank, they got along fine. Then the wife added a Haitian anemone, and it killed them both. But they did get along good for the year or so they were in there.

 

I would imagine you have more than enough room in the 34g tank for the pair of clownfish.

[CronicReefer]

I keep a springeri dottyback with my clown pair and they all get along just fine in my 29 gallon. Every fish has a different personality and yours may be more accepting of other fish, especially if it had no problem with other peaceful fish in the past. Generally its not till fish mature before you start seeing any real aggression anyways.

[mynewbaby]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone

[CatfishSoupFTW]

I have a neon dotty back.... at one point I tried removing it, and I almost did but then decided not to. Its been living with 2 clowns since the start ( they even school together on the daily) , and a goby. but then said goby died, and I tried a few other bottom dwellers. After some sick fish dying here and there, if there are a few things I noted heavily on the dotty back was:

 

If you get a fish its size or larger, it backs down quicker

 

- if you go for a smaller fish, try trapping the dotty back or even removing it for a few hours, put new fish in, then put the dotty back , back in. It will lose its turf and will be okay. This worked for me well, because .... well when it was the other way around, dotty back first, then fish, he spent his entire day hunting this fish and tormenting it. It did it to a chromis and goby for a while, but eventually once I removed him for a bit, he was other it. now everyone is fine.

 

- have good hiding spots, it will be key.

 

- Try feeding the fish as you introduce them, in order to distract it.

 

- Get a fish that doesnt share similar shape. This is a major one, at least for me.

 

Overall, I had some really rough times trying to sort my way around this fish. My tankmates basically were decided on this one fish. In the end, I somehow got it to work out, but be patient as you will have a love hate relationship.

 

oh and my tank is a 18x18x16. so slightly smaller than yours.