Do Grammas always fade?

[Idle Moor]

I have my 135 reef (well, it's a fowlr, but looks so good I think of it as a reef) just about how I want it now with a lemonpeel angel, a 3.5" Niger trigger, and a 4" Navarchus angel. As the last two grow it will be plenty full I think. The colors and interaction of the fish is gorgeous and all are doing well, but I want a few small filler fish to round out the look and I was thinking of a group of 3 royal grammas.

However I've seen a few larger, long-captive ones in display tanks at LFS's recently that looked just awful with the magenta so faded it was practically grey. I'd heard they could lose their colors but didn't know it was this dramatic.

Is there anything besides unconfirmed theories about why this happens and any proven methods for preventing it? I've heard excessive light and poor nutrition. This sounds like a roundup of the usual suspects tho. Any confirmed reports of grammas living a long time WITHOUT fading?

Alternately, what else would you recommend as substitutes?
Mike

 

[GoingPostal]

I've never heard of grammas fading, mines been under halides the whole time I've owned him and fed basic aquarium fare, mysis, flakes, pellets, etc. Still bright as can be, had him a little under 3 years. If you go without grammas do you want a small group or singles? I think chalk bass can be kept in groups, in my 135 I have a pair of hawkfish that are pretty entertaining.

 

[anbosu]

I saw a big one in a restaurant tank the other day that looked like crap it was so washed out, and I was wondering the same thing as the OP.

 

[Chooch1]

Grammas seem to retain their color much better in reef tanks with live rock. I've had my current Royal Gramma for 4 years and its color is as intense as the day I bought it. Excellent water quality and a varied diet is the key.

 

[rekn]

i used to live in FL and they inhabbit bright places sometimes, none of these ever seem faded. had a baby for 6 years before it died and it never faded.


ive seen some that were fed spirulina flakes from ON and they were practically glowing.

 

[Idle Moor]

Well these stories are good to hear, but any idea of what's happened to the ones that have definitely washed out?