Redhead dottyback

The redhead dottyback is a striking small basslet from the western Indian Ocean off East Africa, sporting a bright pink to red head that fades into a pale lavender or bluish body. Like other dottybacks it is a cave-dweller that stakes out a territory among live rock and defends it vigorously against conspecifics, so house only one specimen unless in a very large system. It is reef-safe with corals and larger tankmates but will hunt tiny shrimp, copepods and worms. Keep it in a mature reef with abundant rockwork, secure lid and stable water: warm temperatures, salinity 33 to 35 ppt, pH 8.1 to 8.4. Feed a carnivorous diet of mysis, enriched brine shrimp and prepared frozen foods several times weekly. It is generally hardy and readily accepts aquarium fare.