royal gramma????

[fish_pheen]

i recently added a royal gramma to my tank, and i bought him off this web site, and i am 100% sure that i did the acclimation process correctly, (3+ hours) the readings on my tank are good but he seems to just stay on the bottom and breath rapidly, sometimes on laying on his side (its been about 2 days)

is this normall???

 

[pontius]

you've had him for 2 days? may be ok, the shipping process can be traumatic.
on the other hand, it is weird that in books, royal grammas have a reputation of being very hardy. but from what I've heard firsthand from people and what I've experienced myself, they are not that hardy. I bought a gramma that died after one day, and I know a guy that had the same thing happen. my lfs guy said that contrary to popular belief, they are not that hardy at all.
anyway, I hope it works out for you. maybe try turning off the light for awhile.

 

[evanish]

Please post your water levels.

 

[zanoshanox]

I have the same felings as Pontius. I have had two grammas as different times before. One lasted about a month, and the other a week... The one that I had for a month died from ich, and the other one died of unknown causes, when all of the other fish in my tank remained healthy... So from my personal experience, they dont seem all that hardy.

 

[murph]

I too believe my royal gamma to be one of the least hardy fish in my tank. Every night like clock work he will flash/scratch himself on the rock work. Obviously there is some kind of irritant/ parasite on him but he has been in the tank from the beginning, 5 months, and there has never been parasite problems with his tank mates. Despite a vary good appetite he is also the only fish that never seems to grow.
Its pretty odd and if he ever goes I doubt I will get another. It could be that he is an Atlantic as far as origin and most tank conditions are more conducive to ind Pacific livestock.

 

[cabot]

Royal Gramma was one of my first fish. Had him a couple of years.............no problem. He made his home a hole in one of the rocks. Been there ever since. He patrols the tank, keeps everyone in line. Maybe yours just wasn't healthy?

 

[sillynecco]

I had the same thing happen with me, i got the fish on this website, he just sat at the bottom and breathed hard, i watch him take his last breath, and then just froze....

 

[fish_pheen]

Thanks guys for your sugggestions but today i decided to make a 30% water change and about 5 hours later he seems to be doing MUCH better, i guess the water balance wasn't correct