Pseudochromis steenei
Encyclopedia
Pseudochromis steenei, also known as Lyretail Dottyback, is a saltwater fish from Indonesia
and Northern Australia
that is occasionally kept in aquariums.
Twenty five gallons is typically quoted as the minimum tank size required to permanently house this fish. It is best to house them in a species tank, or aquariums greater than a hundred gallons however or they may bother other species persistently. Because it typically ignores invertebrates it is considered reef safe, although it will sometimes attack shrimp.
It is more aggressive than most, and perhaps all, dottybacks and will often attack other fish and even people. It can be particularly territorial with members of its own species meaning it is best to only keep one in an aquarium. Despite its hardy nature, it should not be placed in an aquarium with larger predatory fish such as lionfish
, and grouper
which may see it as a food source.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and Northern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
that is occasionally kept in aquariums.
Appearance
A small marine fish that reaches five inches in length. Males are blue with a bright blue head, while females are blue.In the Aquarium
Pseudochromis steenei is a hardy member of a saltwater aquarium. As one of the few saltwater aquarium fish that can be bred in captivity use of tank bred individuals in aquariums is often encouraged to reduce the pressure on wild populations.Twenty five gallons is typically quoted as the minimum tank size required to permanently house this fish. It is best to house them in a species tank, or aquariums greater than a hundred gallons however or they may bother other species persistently. Because it typically ignores invertebrates it is considered reef safe, although it will sometimes attack shrimp.
It is more aggressive than most, and perhaps all, dottybacks and will often attack other fish and even people. It can be particularly territorial with members of its own species meaning it is best to only keep one in an aquarium. Despite its hardy nature, it should not be placed in an aquarium with larger predatory fish such as lionfish
Lionfish
Lionfish may refer to:* genus Pterois, collectively known as the lionfish* Red Lionfish , a significant invasive species off the East Coast of North America and in the Caribbean-Fish:...
, and grouper
Grouper
Groupers are fish of any of a number of genera in the subfamily Epinephelinae of the family Serranidae, in the order Perciformes.Not all serranids are called groupers; the family also includes the sea basses. The common name grouper is usually given to fish in one of two large genera: Epinephelus...
which may see it as a food source.