Royal Dottyback

Pictichromis paccagnellae is a fish commonly kept in marine aquariums. In an aquarium, it will grow up to three inches long. The dottyback will defend its territory against fish several times its size, but gets along with many other common aquarium fish. This is sometimes mistaken for a royal gramma.

Description

The front of the fish is bright purple and the posterior is yellow. It can grow up to 6 cm in length. It is colored half magenta and half yellow with a solid change between the two colors (as opposed to the similar Royal Gramma, Gramma loreto, that gradually changes from one color to the other). These fish were formerly known as Pseudochromis paccagnellae and may still be referred to by this name in some references.

Distribution

Western Pacific: Indonesia (Java and Sulawesi) to Vanuatu; Palau in Micronesia.

Habitat

Found in shallow coastal to deep outer-reef drop-offs. Hovers close to coral or rubble. Solitary or in small loosely scattered groups.