Fish
Orchid Dottyback
Pseudochromis fridmani · also called Fridman's dottyback
Facing out from the mouth of a shaded crevice, an orchid dottyback glows magenta-violet against the dim reef wall, a small, territorial fish whose natural home is confined to the northern Red Sea.
Overview
The orchid dottyback, Pseudochromis fridmani, occurs naturally only in the northern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Its intense violet colouring, crevice-dwelling territorial habits, and wide availability through captive breeding make it one of the most recognisable small reef fish in the aquarium trade.
A narrow range, a widespread pet
Despite living naturally in just one small corner of the world, the orchid dottyback is a staple of home aquariums, largely thanks to captive breeding that spares wild populations.
Status
Least Concern, locally common across suitable reef habitat in the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba.
Orchid Dottyback: common questions
Why is it called the orchid dottyback?
Its vivid, almost uniform magenta-violet body resembles the colour of an orchid, giving the species its common name.
Where does the orchid dottyback live in the wild?
It occurs naturally only in the northern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, a very limited wild range.
Is the orchid dottyback aggressive?
It is territorial over its shelter and can be aggressive toward other fish that approach it.
Are orchid dottybacks taken from the wild for aquariums?
Most aquarium specimens are captive-bred, which reduces pressure on wild populations.