There are orchid and purple dottybacks. Could be either. Check out LA to compare.
Wow...what a cool hitchhiker!
Yes, an orchid dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani). You can easily tell this species from a purple dottyback (Pictichromis porphyrea) by coloration (P. fridmani has a dark stripe on the snout, and each body scale has a vertical dark blue marking), and caudal fin shape (rounded, usually with lower part and sometimes upper part broadly extended in P. fridmani, versus truncate (squared off) or weakly emarginate (with narrow extensions on the upper lower part of the tail) in P. porphyrea). Very nice little fish.
Tony
Only too happy to help Beengirl ... particulary on dottyback identifications, as that's the group I know most about! And yes, that is a really good score ... I'm jealous. I have dived with this species in the Red Sea, and it's one of my favourites.
Tony
It's an orchid dottyback, not a strawberry. Strawberry don't have the black line at the eyes, and mine does. And our resident fish taxonomist (Tony Gill) has already confirmed this suspicion. Thanks for the help everyone!Strawberry Basslet