Have a few questions about a purple pseudo/magneto dotty back I picked up.

[Waleedwale1]

I picked up a purple pseudo, about 2 inches big. The LFS said that he would only get about an inch bigger. He will be going into my 29 gallon with my algae blenny and clownfish pair. Right now he is in a 6 gallon fluval edge being quarantined with a small yellow watchman goby and a cleaner shrimp. I put him in there because he had some white specks on him. My question is, are they hardy? Do they have any special care requirements? Are they jumpers? Will he be fine in the 6 gal for a week or two with my small goby as long as I do a 2 gal water change every 4 days? Are they reef safe?

 

[Pseudo]

Pseudochromis My favorite fish. No special requirements, they eat anything. Very territorial especially against fish the same size, body type and color. Yep they are jumper alright. The clown fish have no problems with them but that blenny might be a target.

HTH

 

[Waleedwale1]

My blenny is an ******* so I don't think the pseudo is gonna mess with him lol. Will he be fine in a 6 gal for a week or two?

 

[Pseudo]

Yep no worries and Pseudo's are vicious when they want to be but on the whole, they look great and fun to watch. Mostly model citizens.

 

[Waleedwale1]

Yep no worries and Pseudo's are vicious when they want to be but on the whole, they look great and fun to watch. Mostly model citizens.

One last question, is it normal for them to be close to the sand bed when stressed out? Mine is hiding in rocks and is staying close to the sand bed. How long should I keep him quarantined? And are they jumpers?

 

[TommyP]

They are jumpers, I lost my blenny from that. QT for as long as you want. But, IMO 4 weeks. Your QT tank should not have any substrate though... Empty tank with just heater powerhead filter & some random pvc pipes for the fish to hide.

 

[Waleedwale1]

He is hiding right now

 

[marrone]

This is a pretty aggressive fish and you're going to worry about other fish that you have in your tank with it, especially smaller fish or fish that are similar, like other dottyback/bassett and wrasse.

 

[Waleedwale1]

I'm worried about my clowns, they are the only fish smaller then the pseudo. He doesn't seem to be messing with my watchman in the QT tank.

 

[SanmanReefer]

This is a pretty aggressive fish and you're going to worry about other fish that you have in your tank with it, especially smaller fish or fish that are similar, like other dottyback/bassett and wrasse.

+1. I had one a few years ago in a 46 bowfront and he was an as&$@)e! Had to get rid of him, terrorized everything in my tank.

 

[KurtL]

I'm surprised that 1. The lfs didnt tell you how aggressive they can be. 2. They sold you a fish with ich.

 

[Pseudo]

Assume all fish have ich. Most lfs don't have the facilities to QT for months before selling a fish. That's just the business. It wont really mess with the clownfish too much as they are aggressive in their own right and can hold their own. Pseudochromis are not open water swimmers. They prefer to "lurk" in rock ledges and crevices. They are not shy once acclimated to its new home. I used to have one eat out of my hand.

 

[KurtL]

Not being able to quarantine for months isn't an excuse to sell someone a sick fish. They saw he was inexperienced therefore an easy mark to get rid of something.