Bicolor Dottyback

The Bicolor Dottyback is a brilliantly colored small fish featuring a bold magenta to purple front half that transitions sharply into a vivid yellow rear half, creating a striking bicolor appearance remarkably similar to the Caribbean Royal Gramma. This resemblance has earned it the alternative name False Royal Gramma, though the two species are unrelated and can be distinguished by the Bicolor Dottyback's sharper color division and more elongated body shape. At just 3 inches maximum size, this is a compact but vividly colored species that adds tremendous visual impact to any reef aquarium.

Native to reef habitats across the Indo-Pacific, particularly around Indonesia and the Philippines, the Bicolor Dottyback inhabits caves, crevices, and rubble zones along reef walls and slopes. It is a territorial species that establishes a home base within the rockwork and defends it vigorously against intruders. In the wild, it feeds on small crustaceans, zooplankton, and bristleworms. This natural diet makes it a useful pest controller in reef aquariums, as it will actively hunt and consume small bristleworms and other unwanted invertebrates.

The Bicolor Dottyback is considered a beginner-friendly species due to its extreme hardiness, disease resistance, and willingness to accept virtually any prepared food from day one. However, its semi-aggressive temperament requires thoughtful tankmate selection. It can be quite territorial, especially in smaller tanks, and may harass timid species or fish of similar size and shape. Captive-bred specimens, which are widely available, tend to be significantly less aggressive than wild-caught individuals. Provide plenty of rockwork with multiple hiding spots to help manage territorial behavior.