Purple Dottyback Fish

The Purple Pictichromis porphyrea Dottyback, also known as the Orchid Dottyback, is a captivating and vibrant addition to the marine aquarium. Its body is a striking, uniform purple, often with a subtle iridescence that catches the light.

A minimum of a 30-gallon tank is recommended for a single Orchid Dottyback, with plenty of live rock providing ample hiding places and territories. While generally peaceful with fish larger than itself, it can be territorial towards smaller, passive fish and other dottybacks. It is considered reef safe, typically ignoring corals and invertebrates.

The Orchid Dottyback is a carnivore and will readily accept a varied diet of meaty foods. Offer a mix of high-quality marine flake and pellet foods, as well as frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and other small crustaceans. Feed several times a day to maintain its health and vibrant coloration. In a home aquarium, they typically reach a size of around 3 inches. Breeding in captivity is possible but requires specific conditions and is not commonly achieved by hobbyists. There are no easily distinguishable visual differences between males and females.