Dottyback

ID points

• Body colour often split into two completely different halves, front and back
• Slender body with a small rounded tail fin
• Fiercely territorial, always in and out of the same reef crevice

Basics

Family

Pseudochromidae

Length

6–10 cm

Depth

1-60 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Reef crevices of the Indo-Pacific

Habitat

Reef crevices and rubble

Diet

Small crustaceans, small fish

Easily confused with

Flasher WrasseCourting males flash neon colours over the whole body in an instantCleaner WrasseA black stripe runs from the snout straight through to the tailMoon WrasseBlue-green body, pink radiating lines on the head

Fun fact

Dottybacks come in vivid colours, some solid purple, some solid yellow, some split into two tones. For all their small size they are ferociously territorial and will drive off intruders far bigger than themselves.