What to get next?

[neven]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

Use bottle trap. Dottybacks are too clever for nets. But their curiosity can easily get them in the bottle

ty for that advice, it b-lined for the live rock when i dropped a net in

[Zero]

I would try a Large sand sifting goby like Amblygobius phalaena, or Valenciennea strigata. They can hold their own and also clean and turn your sand.

[tang daddy]

I hope you catch the dotty back, if you're having troubles drain the tank. Since it's only a 33 g you can drain it down fairly easy with a garbage can, then remove the rock work and catch the fish. He'll definitely be better living alone in your sump. Better do it soon before he kills the other 2 fish you have.

I learnt my lesson years ago when I kept a strawberry dotty back in a 65g, had to rip that down to get the fish.

Also I bought an accessor that the owner warned me was agressive but because I had bigger fish I thought it would be fine. Nope he had to be sumped aswell.

I like royal gammas for colour, also leopard wrasses, fairy wrasses, percula clowns, and maybe one halicrocheus wrasse. That maybe too many fish for a 33g but see what fits your tank and tank mates. If you do get fairy wrasses be sure to put a net lid or you'll find some dried anchovies on your floor.

[neven]

I Tried a bottle trap it didn't work first time around, so i poked holes through it so the water flows very slowly through it. 2 hours later, after freeing a hermit and my tailspot 3 times, the dotty back ventured in and i quickly snatched it out. Right now he's in a netted compartment in my sump on time out, i may just return him to j&l if possible, if not i'll set him up a nano until i rehome him.

also good news, i don't know how he did it, the wrasse found his way to my sump. I have 1 full siphon, and 2 open channels all with strainers. The open channel strainers stop around 1/4" from the mesh tank cover, and they sit above the water line a good 1/2", so it would be quite a jump, plus lucking out not landing in the dry open channel.

so tank stock is now:
firefish
6-line wrasse (very docile)
tailspot blenny

within minutes of the dottyback being put in the sump, the rest of the fish seemed calmer and in the open. So now i need to think of some tank mates again.... Funny thing though, hearing your story, the same guy at j&l tried selling me a strawberry pseudochromis as well telling me they get along with tank mates (like the diedem).

So i think i'll be looking to get a blackcap basslet, if none in stock, a royal gramma. Also thinking on a fairy wrasse to see how the six line reacts, if they dont mesh, then i will let the wife choose which she'd rather have and sump the other.

down the road i may just settle for a clown, if the parameters are staying in check and no fish has claimed the massive frogspawn thats yellin for a host.

[Proteus]

So i think i'll be looking to get a blackcap basslet

Great fish. Loved mine. Though he is fairly reclusive. I have read lots of stuff of them being territorial.