Orchid Dottyback: Hardy, Peaceful, And Just Right For Reef Tanks

By Jeff Kurtz

Captive breeding of marine fishes has been a boon to our hobby in any number of ways, one of which is democratizing access to formerly really pricy species such as the orchid dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani). While I wouldn’t characterize the current market price of this Red Sea species as “cheap,” it’s definitely in the realm of affordable for most hobbyists—and it’s hardiness, ease of feeding, manageable adult size, reef-friendliness, and relatively peaceful disposition (as dottybacks go, that is) more than justify the modest outlay of cash for a specimen.

Physical traits

P. fridmani is a small (reaching only around 2