Pictichromis porphyreus
| Common Names: | Magenta Dottyback Magenta Pseudochromis Purple Dottyback Purple Pseudochromis Strawberry Pseudochromis |
| Synonyms: | Pseudochromis porphyreus |
| Family: | Pseudochromidae |
| Category: | Basses |
| Distribution: | Indo Pacific; This dottyback is found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, and commonly collected in the Philippines. |
| Main Ecosystem: | Reef; This fish is always found in close proximity to rock structures or coral rubble. It is a crevice-dwelling species. |
| Temperament: | Aggressive; When kept in the company of large and active or intimidating fish, this dottyback is shy and will remain in or near the rockwork at all times. However, if it is kept with passive tankmates, it will become very bold and dominant. As with all Pseudochromids, this species is highly protective of its territory. In the confines of the aquarium, it is more than capable of terrorizing and killing peaceful fish. Keeping more than one together is not recommended except in larger tanks, and even then a single pair is enough. This fish should be added to a tank after the other livestock. Shrimp are usually destroyed by this fish. Even larger specimens will be bashed against a hard surface and broken up into small pieces. |
| Diet: | Carnivore; This Pseudochromid is a typical representative of the family, and is more than willing to feed on anything made of meat. Zooplankton and benthic invertebrates are standard fare in the wild. Shrimp are relished, and small crustaceans (such as copepods) and worms (such as bristleworms) are usually eaten. |
| Care: | This dottyback is a hardy fish, especially once it has successfully acclimated to its tank. Provided that it has plenty of rock to explore, this fish will quickly set up a territory and become fairly bold. It can withstand less than optimal conditions, and tolerates fluctuations in water chemistry. For these reasons and because of its small size, it is certainly possible to house the Purple Pseudochromis in a small aquarium. |
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| Potential Size: | Male: 6cm (2.4") Female: 6cm (2.4") |
| Water Region: | Middle, Bottom; The Purple Pseudochromis is usually found less than a few feet from the substrate, though it will sometimes inhabit rock walls near dropoffs. |
| Activity: | Diurnal; This fish will retire to its cave at night. |
| Gender: | Males grow slightly larger than females, and female fish may become noticably plump with eggs. This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning that a female can change sex and become male. |
| Breeding: | The male fish will entice a female into his lair, where a mass of sticky eggs will be deposited. The male will then chase away his mate, and fan the egg mass with his fins. The eggs will hatch between half a week to a week later, and the young will undergo a monthlong larval period. This species can be spawned in aquaria. |
| Variants: | There are no variants, though this fish is similar in appearance to Pseudochromis fridmani, the Orchid Dottyback. The black eye stripe and purple fins of the latter species distinguish it from the Purple Pseudochromis. |
| Comments: | This is one of the most popular "nano fish" and one of the most widely recognized Pseudochromids. This fish is colorful, intelligent, often bold, and easily catches the eye of an observer. This species is not commercially bred like many other dottybacks, but it is only a matter of time before they hit the market. |
| Main Colours: | Purple |
| Markings: | No Markings |
| Mouth: | Normal |
| Tail: | Flat |
| Search: | Show similar species Find compatible species |
| Image Credit: | © FishProfiles.com |
| Submitted By: | sirbooks |
| Contributors: | sirbooks |
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