New gramma will not stop fighting his reflection!

[bat21]

Just got a royal gramma. Kept the lights off for the first 24 hours to let him get comfortable. He was out and exploring so I turned on the lights. He was fine for a little while until he noticed the other evil gramma in the glass. He has been fighting with his reflection for over an hour now. Nonstop. I thought it would die down but has not at all. I'm worried about this stressing him out. What should I do?

 

[Neebles]

If you stick a piece of paper or something against the glass does it cut the reflection?

 

[bat21]

I tried a few things. White paper seems to work the best. He still notices it and follows it back and forth but is not in full open mouth attack mode anymore. So that's progress I suppose.

 

[Betta132]

Give him a few days. Bettas often do that in new tanks, but they calm down after a while, and I'm guessing this is similar. Try distracting him with food, perhaps?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

At least you can see yours. I got one Friday and since putting it in, I've only seen glimpses once a day if I'm lucky. Hopefully it will decide to come out and show itself more in the near future.

 

[bat21]

Yeah, he spent the first 24 hours in his hole, but since then has been out the majority of the time. Kinda likes hanging with my pair of clowns actually.

Do you have any other fish that your might be intimidated by?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Nope, just a pair of percula clowns and him. Bought them at the same time. They met briefly and then the RG went into hiding. Still hiding.

 

[bat21]

Has your gramma come out of hiding yet?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Nope, I'm thinking he is in the sump. I've got a ton of small rocks in there and guess I'll tear it down this weekend and see if I can find it.

 

[Mael]

mine really only comes out if Im not next to the tank, when Im sitting on the couch he is out all the time. He figured out some of the frozen food will go behind the rockwork due to flow in the tank so he just sits back there for food most of the time, so I dont even see him during feedings half the time. too bad hes not out as much as they are very good looking fish.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Yes beautiful fish for sure. I got it because I wanted to actually SEE IT> The last one I had years ago was a front and center in your face kind of guy. This one is MIA.

 

[bat21]

Little update on this gramma. It had been two weeks with the left side of my tank covered in white paper. Obviously don't plan on that being there forever. So I figured I'd give it a whole day with no paper to see if he would ever stop fighting his reflection.

Took the paper off right after I turned the lights off at night. Woke up the next morning, he was out waiting for breakfast. Fed them, and went to work. Got home and he was no longer out, and not in his normal cave. Apparently he lost the battle with his reflection and now resides in a space in the back of the tank. Has been there for 2 full days. I even tried putting the paper back up, but he didn't care. It looks like he found a place to hang out where the other gramma can't see him.

Pretty bummed. I hope he comes back to the front eventually.