Striped (Pseudochromis sankeyi)

The Striped Dottyback is found in the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. They live in small colonies in rock rubble at relatively shallow depths. This is one of the least territorial of the dottybacks due to its lifestyle of living in colonies with other members of the species.

P. sankeyi have a distinct black and white striped color pattern, and may be a mimic to the Coral Catfish (Plotosus lineatus).

This is an easy species to care for in the marine aquarium, as long as it’s provided good rocky hiding places and zooplanktonic foods such as brine, mysid or krill shrimp. More than one per tank is possible since they exhibit colonial behavior and normally do not fight each other. It is best to introduce all the fish together when trying to establish a colony.

Striped Dottybacks will spawn about every 8-11 days and have large egg masses of up to 1,000 eggs. Typically they will hatch in 4-5 days and are larval for 24-28 days.

Be sure to check out the two hybrid Dottybacks created with this fish, the Indigo and the Electric Indigo.