royal gramma acting really weird....

[jacrmill]

ive had my royal gramma for about 2 weeks. hes pretty much stayed in this little hole in my LR. well yesterday i got a watchman goby who kinda claimed a hole at the bottom of one side of my LR. now my royal gramma is going from the other side and digging a whole under my rock. hes actually getting a mouth full of sand and then spitting it out outside of the hole. is he making a new house or trying to piss off my goby or board or what? could it be a she and she be pregnant and nesting or something? i have no idea, but its hilarious to watch.

 

[saltwater4me]

I had a strawberry grouper that did just the same thing. He took the substrate in his mouth and spit it out. I think hes making a new home.

 

[jacrmill]

hes also been opening his mouth kinda like hes threatening me or something. he looks right at me and just flares his mouth as wide open as he can. is he having trouble breathing because it seems like my goby is doing it too, or is that just something fish do?i have a good amount of surface agitation, so i would think there would be plenty of oxygen. i have an eclipse, so it breaks the surface anyways, and i have a powerhead making waves up there. am i probably just being paranoid.

 

[broomer5]

Royal Gramma's do that with their mouths.
Whenever threatened or want to make a stand.
Mine does it whenever another fish gets a little too close - not to worry.

 

[pufferlover]

broomer; great picture. You are all right it is natural for a Gramma to do that. And it is making itself a new home, not to worry.

 

[jacrmill]

thanks, that really is a good picture. i think im just paranoid cause everything is finally going ok. thanks for the help.