Diadem Dottyback (Pictichromis diadema)

Diadem Dottyback Pictichromis diadema
Name	Diadem Dottyback
Name Lat.	Pictichromis diadema
Synonym	Pseudochromis diadema
Family	Dottybacks
Family lat.	Pseudochromidae
Order	Ovalentarias
Order lat.	Ovalentaria inc. sed.
Origin	Western Pacific
Habitat	Protected reefs
Diet	Carnivore
pH	8.1-8.4
Hardness	8-10 °KH
Behavior	Aggressive
Keeping	Individual
Reef Compatible	Yes
Care Level	Moderate
Life Span	3-5 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	6 cm
Temperature	24-28 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	~ 200 l
US Units
Size	2.5"
Temperature	75-82 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	~ 50 gal

Distribution and habitat

The distribution area of Pictichromis diadema is the western Central Pacific, from Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia to the Philippines. They live there on protected reefs in caves and crevices and between branching corals.

Maintenance

They require a well-structured aquarium with a reef structure that allows for territoriality (shelters, crevices, caves, branching coral sticks) and live stones that act like a biological filter, as well as fine-grained sandy areas. Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free sands, gravels, stones or sea sand of various grain sizes may be used as substrate

Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. Lighting must correspond to the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals

Salinity: 33-36 ‰	pH value: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH	Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l
phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l	nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l

For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention must be paid to consistently good water quality and water values.

Diet

They are ambush hunters that prefer to eat planktonic small crustaceans. The food change usually succeeds without problems. The food supply should consist of a combination of live and frozen food, such as artemia, mysis, shrimp and krill, with chopped fish, mussel and shrimp meat or a commercially available frozen food mixture enriched with vitamins. Dry food (flakes, granules) is rarely accepted

It is recommended to feed small portions several times a day. Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

They are very territorial and behave aggressively within the species and against other damselflies. They also defend their territory vigorously against other, larger fish. Pair keeping is only possible in a much larger and richly structured tank. They should only be socialized with larger and robust fish.

Sex dimorphism

They are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning that most males develop from functional females when needed, and are referred to as "secondary males". The dominant, usually slightly larger animal always has male status. There are no known external distinguishing characteristics.

Reproduction and breeding

There are no known reports of successful breeding in the aquarium.

Important

They hardly swim in the open water, but stay close to their hiding place, to which they retreat in a flash in case of danger. As reef dwellers, they should be kept together with corals and not in a fish-only aquarium. Care should be taken when keeping them with shrimp, as they may be considered prey

If different species are kept together, care should be taken to ensure that the fish match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements and social behavior, and that the setup meets the needs of all species kept together. New fish to be introduced must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium.

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: BAENSCH & DEBELIUS (2006): Meerwasser Atlas Bd. 1, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF