Help! Orchid dottyback is terrorizing other fish!

[abdiel b]

I have a 60 gallon saltwater tank with a really aggressive orchid dottyback that terrorizes my juvenile watchman goby and my royal gramma basslet. Can somebody tell me how I can make him stop chasing all the other fish.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Rearranging the tank scape can help, but at the end of the day the most effective method is going to be to rehome the dottyback.
Dotties are aggressive, especially to similar fish, and a royal gramma shares the exact same niche (and is similar looking), meaning it’s a prime competitor for the dotty.

 

[Daddio64]

I had to get rid of mine, I received him hiding in some live rock. When I noticed him being very aggressive, I did some research and came to the conclusion that he was the right fit for my tank.

 

[KING KONG]

I have a 60 gallon saltwater tank with a really aggressive orchid dottyback that terrorizes my juvenile watchman goby and my royal gramma basslet. Can somebody tell me how I can make him stop chasing all the other fish.

They show aggression towards small or the fishes that r of their size and the fishes which came near their hidding space. Some orchid dottyback r just evil. U can try rearranging rocks but that may or may not help. They sometimes just become like damsels!

 

[Phil Steel]

Dottybacks are aggressive - if the option is open, re-home the little guy.

 

[Jeffbear]

I had to relegate my Orchid to my macro algae tank. I feel your pain.

 

[G Santana]

I had one a long time ago and had no issues but he was housed with much larger fish, housing with similar size or smaller fish can lead to bad outcomes.

 

[Timfish]

Rehome it.

 

[Aluco]

It's unfortunate, one of the first things I learned about fish compatibility was that dottybacks and royal grammas won't get along. I had plans for a similar stocking.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I tried a bunch, but eventually had to get rid of the orchid. Took it killing a few fish to get there.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Dottybacks oftentimes will even attempt to terrorize fish significantly larger than them. They're a ridiculously sturdy fish with a lot of fight. Nothing will fix this problem outside rehoming

 

[Dburr1014]

Orchids and grammas are same body shape and color(head), they won't work together.