orchid dottyback problems

yesterday I happened upon an orchid dottyback and I have been looking for one for months. I asked if it would go well in my 20 which has 2 firefish (established) and a lovely pearly jawfish (I just got a week ago). They said it would be fine with the jawfish but what happens FIRST thing- the dottyback goes in and steals the jawfish's spot and wont let him back (i actually have video of the moment it was stolen https://youtu.be/E0MyL9AVRP0 ). Then he goes out and pesters him. Last night he got so scared when he wasnt tucked in the corner buried in sand up to his head he was darting to the top like he was gonna jump (there is a glass lid).

Today I saw more pestering and a scared jawfish and i had to remove the dottyback. I just put him in a 16 gallon tank by himself that i was prepping for my clowns and anemone but I HAD to get him out of the tank.

I love this fish's beauty, despite its feistiness. Granted, I like very passive fish and thats what was in that tank. So I am wondering what kinds of fish go well with the orchid dottyback... or should i keep it solo until I can get a nice big tank where there is more territory?

clowns,dragonets,hawkfish,angels....some pretty nice fish can work out.sorry to hear about the aggresion.thats crazy that you caught the moment of eviction on camera.little bastard.

yeah i was psyched to see him emerge and then wham, evicts the jawfish.

So I put him by himself in the 16 gallon tank and there's not much rock and he's been digging a burrow for 2 hours. I didn't know these guys dig. No wonder he wanted the jawfish's nicely dug out property.

Will he so ok in the 16 if I add my two skunk clowns, bubble tip anemone and the porcelain crab back in there?

i dont see why not.it should be fine.mine is with clowns as well as a number of invertabrates and i have no troubles.as long as its not a similar looking fish structualy you should be fine.i gotta see this 16 gallon.

sweet I will give that a try and see how they handle each other. Yeah man you gotta come over and see all 4 of my tanks

four tanks...this is madness...
but yeah i have to come by.drop me a line and we can touch bases.you got the mad collection going on now.i havent seen half your fish.

those are some beautiful tanks, and awesome vids...

thanks!

oh and yeah, bert, i have tons going on.. another tank on the way soon to replace the 20 gallon tank... i have the bug bad... I am turning my garage into a coral reef showroom hope i dont blow the fuse in there... haha

The Orchid Dottyback, also known as the Fridman's Dottyback, or Fridman's Pseudochromis is an excellent addition to most reef tanks. This gorgeous red/lavender colored fish has a wonderful personality in the aquarium and will surely become the aquarium favorite.
A 30 gallon or larger aquarium with numerous hiding places should be provided. It will tend to swim in the open after it has become acclimated to its new environment. It may occasionally chase smaller fish but will defend its hiding places from intruders. It will prey on pests such as small mantis shrimp and bristleworms, making this fish ideal for the reef aquarium. If more than one Pseudochromis will be maintained together in the aquarium, it is important to add them at the same time.

The diet consists of meaty foods including brine shrimp and prepared frozen foods.

Why did you just write what live aquaria.com says?