Splendid Dottyback (Manonichthys splendens)

Splendid Dottyback Manonichthys splendens
Name	Splendid Dottyback
Name Lat.	Manonichthys splendens
Synonym	Pseudochromis splendens
Family	Dottybacks
Family lat.	Pseudochromidae
Order	Ovalentarias
Order lat.	Ovalentaria inc. sed.
Origin	Indo-West Pacific
Habitat	Lagoons, seaward reefs
Diet	Carnivore
pH	8.1-8.4
Hardness	8-10 °KH
Behavior	Semi-aggressive
Keeping	Individual, pair
Reef Compatible	Yes
Care Level	Moderate
Life Span	2-3 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	13 cm
Temperature	22-28 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	~ 250 l
US Units
Size	5"
Temperature	72-82 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	~ 65 gal

Distribution and habitat

The distribution of Manonichthys splendens reaches from the Philippines over New Guinea and the Indonesian islands to Australia. They live there on coral and sponge rich steep slopes in lagoons and on outer reefs in 5-40 m depth.

Maintenance

They require a well-structured aquarium with a reef structure that allows for territoriality (shelters, crevices, caves, 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

These lurkers are not very picky, but prefer small crustaceans and shrimp. The change of food is unproblematic. 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 even in pairs each animal often occupies its own territory, which is vigorously defended. Keeping them in groups is only possible in a larger aquarium with many hiding places. To avoid turf wars, they should be introduced into the aquarium at the same time. Abundant and varied feeding reduces aggression. They usually behave peacefully towards other 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. External sexual characteristics are not known.

Reproduction and breeding

They could already be bred several times in the aquarium.

Important

They rarely swim in open water, but stay close to their hiding place, to which they retreat in a flash when in danger

As reef dwellers, they should be kept together with corals and not in a fish-only aquarium. They are well suited to control bristle worms

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