Royal Gramma

[jerthunter]

There doesn't seem to be very much discussion here about royal gramma's. I am wondering how good of a fit one would be in my 65 gal tank. I have the following fish, A scooter blenny, a lawnmower blenny, a blue damsel, a 3 striped damsel I hope to be removing soon, a false perc clowniefish, and a yellow tang (yes a yellow tang in a 65 tank and no it isn't to small and yes I will find him a new home if he ever gets to big). Any insight into royal gramma's beside the fact that they are deep water fish who like lots of rock work would be greatly appreciated.

 

[blemmy_guy]

There a great addition to your tank, and wont bother anything but other Basslets. They add a lot of color to your tank, and really peacefull. Goodluck to ya!
Todd

 

[mr.p]

Royal Gramma and firefish gobies not a good idea?

 

[feixjai]

why cant the royal gramma and a firefish get together? i have them together in my 24 an dont see any aggresion. i had my gramma for about 1 week now

 

[dmitry]

Royal Grammas tend to hide a lot. But they are gorgeous fish!

 

[blemmy_guy]

Originally Posted by Mr.P
Royal Gramma and firefish gobies not a good idea?
Im wondering the same thing, they get along fine as far as i have seen. Ive had the pair before, in fact i had a purple and red firefish in with my Gramma.
Todd

 

[smallfry]

I have a royal gramma and he is a mean little guy. He is in a 15g tank and I cant add anyone else he even goes after a sally lightfoot I have in there..

 

[mr_bill]

Just like most fish, the Royal Gramma have individual personalities. You might get one that hides alot, or you might get one that is very social. It just depends on the individual, so try watching the fishes behavior at the store before buying it.
I have a pair of GSM clowns, scooter blenny, and a bi-color angel with my Royal Gramma and he is doing well with no aggression. They do like a nice tight fit crevis to sleep in, but most of the day I see mine hovering mid-tank and darting at chunks of things that fly by in the current. He's not a very social fish like the other four groupies in the tank and prefers to have his own space.
Hope that helps.

 

[teresaq1]

I have one with my fire fish , and they get along great. I bought mine small, and it is very settled in my tank.

 

[jayc]

Very neat fish! And great addition. I have one in my 55 and he's doing great. Mine likes to rearrange the hermit crab shells.

Josh

 

[murph]

IMO you will see a difference in all of your fishes behavior if you remove the damsels. I have been lucky and never encountered a true "killer" damsel but there hyperactive nature in general seems to prevent any added fish from settling in to there natural behaviors in any tank under 90 gallons.
I added a gramma to my 75g tank just recently that had two blue damsels in it. The gramma never ventured out of one corner of the tank until a week later when I removed the damsels. Minutes after removing the damsels, despite all of the commotion that there removal involved, the gramma was out of its corner and exploring his new tank.

 

[jerthunter]

I would LOVE to remove my 3 striped damsel, but I have tried many times in vain and I have given up each time as I felt sorry for my yellow tang who hides under a rock every time. I have tried making traps, to practically moving everything in my tank and yet he still evades me. I think I am going to wait on the royal gramma until I can come up with some way of getting rid of the three striped. Maybe then my clownfish will stop hanging out near the top of my tank and actually set up a home.
Do you think the blue damsel will be a probably? Right now she is in a QT because she got hurt but I have never noticed any aggressive behavior from her.

 

[teresaq1]

the best way i have found to remove fish is plexi glass. I have apiece that is the width and highth of tank. i take out a few rocks from one end of tank, put in plexi glass, leave it up about 2 inchs, then chase the fish under, and push it down. now they are cought in a little space, and easy to catch.

 

[jerthunter]

ARRRR!! I got him, I finally caught that mean old 3 striped damsel. I finally gave up on the trap idea and removed half of my rock and pretty much tore the rest of my tank apart but I got him. Now my problem is what to do with him, I have no where to put him tonight, I do have a 10 gal QT but right now it has my wounded blue damsel.
Before I put my blue damsel back, what is everyone's experience with these guys? Are they nearly as aggressive as 3 stripeds? I'd hate to have gone to everything to get one damsel out only to put my other one back and have him ruin it all.

 

[jasonj75]

ive not had any luck with the grammas... ive had 2... one of which i had for about 3 months then it decided to jump out onto the floor. and recently i had one it was out a few days and then it just disappeared, never saw it again. as for a mean ass damsel, i found the best thing to do i throw it in your sunp or fuge, my yellow tail finally got tired and blended himself into food for the rest of my tank inhabitants... it was rather funny!!!

 

[fishmamma]

I have a crazy idea but it just might work. If you have any of those Glad plastic containers wash it out real well and drill many holes through out. Enclose striped damsel insed and float it in your QT for the evening. I guess you could also float him this way in your display. I guess jsut make sure there is enough flow going through the sides and plenty of ventilation at the top.
Edit: I guess it would not float- probably sink but either way it should work as a temporary situation.

 

[monalisa]

Kinda like a hamster in one of those exercise balls, eh? At least you know where they're at and what they're doing kinda thing. Good idea fishmamma!!
Lisa :happyfish

 

[mombostic]

Just a note on the gramma--they have very interesting spatial orientation! They hide upside down in their nooks and crannies, and sometimes swim sideways or all sorts of interesting things. It can shock you a little because you might think they are sick or something. I think it's neat. I like my gramma. He doesn't bother anyone and he's been in there a while.

 

[jerthunter]

I finally picked up a Royal Gramma today, he is a fairly small guy but I was excited to get him. Anyways, here is my question, when I got him from the store the guy looked fine and I have been acclimating him for about an hour now, but I have noticed he has been laying on his side. Just wondering if this is normal behavior for them.. I always worry when I get new fish.....

 

[jasonj75]

lol... i had the same thing happen when i got my first gramma. but there is no need to worry, they all do that. i think they do that to mimic them being dead in the wild. not exactly sure if thats true or not but they do it all the time. mine would actually sleep on a rock with its head pointing down and the tail up in the air sometimes. they are just a goofy acting fish... good luck with yours!!!