Elongate Dottyback

About

The Elongate Dottyback (Pseudochromis elongatus) is a small, slender fish from the reefs of the Philippines and Indonesia, where it spends its time tucked into caves and around rocky outcroppings at depths ranging from shallow coastal zones down to around 60 meters. As the name suggests, its body has a noticeably elongated profile compared to many of its dottyback relatives, which gives it a quick, dart-like presence in the aquarium. In the wild it leads a solitary life, which is a pattern that carries over into captivity. This is not a fish that plays well with others of its own kind, and mixing it with other dottybacks in the same tank is generally asking for trouble. Like most Pseudochromis species, it can also show aggression toward smaller or more docile tankmates, so some thought should go into choosing companions. It's a carnivore that appreciates meaty foods, and its cave-dwelling instincts mean a tank with plenty of rockwork and hiding spots will make it feel genuinely at home. Given its temperament and somewhat specialized social needs, it's best suited to a keeper who has a bit of reef experience under their belt rather than someone just starting out.