fish id please
 

ok, I've had this guy for over a year. Was sold to me as an orchid dottyback or strawberry dottyback, but I don't think that's what it is. It's pretty big, about 7-8 inches long. It was billed as an aggressive fish as it was in J and L's back tank, but it's pretty tame in my tank because my sohal keeps him in place.

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...dottyback3.jpg

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...dottyback2.jpg

http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/a...dottyback1.jpg

My first impression when I saw the pictures was Oblique Dottyback. But you said it is 7" to 8" long. That rules out a lot of dottybacks. The only dottyback that I can think of reaching that size is fire-tail dottyback. Good thing you have something keeping it in check. Dottyback that size can do some damage ;)

yeah, he's more like the fire-tail dottyback. I sometimes think he looks more like a grouper than a dottyback.

I would say Grouper-wrasse. :wink:

From the photo, my guess is a male Pseudochromis novaehollandiae. They are sexually dimorphic. Females are rather plain in colour.

The closest I've found is an Australian multi colored dottyback. Mine looks pretty much like those, however they say that a mature Australian Dottyback grows to 4", whereas mine is closer to 8". Maybe a mutant?

I may regret saying this, but, could it be a wrasse ?

Don't think so. Has a pretty big mouth and eats like a grouper

Looks like some kind o fairy Wrasse or dotty back

Chris

yeah, I think it's a dottyback of some sort, but can't pin it down because of it's size.