Neon Dottyback

The Neon Dottyback is a small but strikingly colored fish featuring a vibrant two-toned color scheme of electric blue along the dorsal half and bright orange-yellow along the ventral half. This bold color contrast gives it a neon-like appearance that immediately draws the eye in any aquarium. Native to the western Indian Ocean, this species inhabits rocky reefs and rubble zones where it darts among crevices hunting small prey.

While beautiful, the Neon Dottyback is notably more aggressive than its cousin the Orchid Dottyback. It will aggressively defend its chosen territory and may harass smaller, more passive tankmates. This species is best kept in tanks with robust, similarly-sized fish that can hold their own. Despite its small size, it has a bold and sometimes pugnacious personality that belies its diminutive stature.

The Neon Dottyback is hardy and readily accepts prepared foods, making it easy to care for in terms of basic husbandry. It is completely reef-safe and will not harm corals or sessile invertebrates. Like other dottybacks, it is an effective predator of bristleworms and small pests. Captive-bred specimens are available and tend to be somewhat less aggressive than wild-caught individuals.