New royal gramma hiding??

P

Philip S.

New member
Hey RC :wave: A couple days ago I picked up a royal gramma, various snails, a scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp and about 20 lbs of liverock from my LFS, and my royal gramma has really not come out of hiding since I added him. Will he start becoming more bold and coming out more within time??

P.S. The only other fish in the tank is a 4 stripe damsel which from what Iv seen hasnt bothered any of the new additions.

thanks :bounce1:
 
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When I had one, he usually stayed near his cave within a rock. Only came out during feeding times.
 
It took 3 weeks before I saw mine after I first put him in. Then it was a few months after that before I saw him on a daily basis. Unless picked on by another tank mate, it will come around I'm sure ;)
 
Congrats on your purchase, these are one of my favorite fish. I currently have a pair and the male is about 4", a beautiful fish. I find it all depends on the individual animal, however I have seen many Royal Grammas that are quite bold, always looking for food, and others that barely leave their home.

hth
 
I've read that a lot of royal grammas stick close to their home in the rocks but mine is completely the opposite. He's always out swimming around and usually stalking other fish in the tank. He never messes with them but he likes to keep an eye on what their doing it seems. I think it's because he was the first fish i added to the tank, so he thinks he runs it now and all the other fish are peaceful so he isn't afraid to come out. It did take mine a couple weeks to really start exploring the tank when I first put him in though so just give him time and he should come around as long as the damsel leaves him alone.
 
I've see lots of them in ocean while diving in the Caribbean. They tend to stay in or near their nook in the rock. I had one and it spent about 2/3 of the light period swimming around.
 
They tend to be extremely shy and won't hesitate to bolt back to safety. They're usually seen just hovering outside of their spot or dipping in and out of rock work. That said, they're a gorgeous fish and their shyness makes it a bit more of a treat to see them!
 
is the royal garamma inverted friendly? I think they are a beautiful fish, but I definately don't want a 20$ shrimp turning into a meal.


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Mine is not shy at all - first to wake and last to sleep - always out in the open. And EVERYTIME I put my hand in the tank he takes a "whack" at me although he doesn't bother anything in the tank - he just hates me.
 
Royal grammas are great fish, but can and will kill and eat small shrimp. I had a large one that eventually killed a good sized banded coral shrimp as well. He would wait until the shrimp molted and take it apart a piece at a time. After a few months the shrimp couldn't re-generate anymore!
 
Hiding Gramma

Hiding Gramma

I also just purchased a royal gramma. I took my time with acclimation and it was docile in acclimation tank. Since introduction to tank, he has bolted for live rock, and keeps going head first into holes. Right now I can see his tail hanging out of live rock hole. Is this considered normal behavior?

Salinity 1.025
pH. 8.1
Ammonia 0.0
Nitrite. 0.0
Nitrate. 5. ppm
.
David
 
Yes mine hide like that more than they swim around. They actually were out more when they were newly introduced, now I rarely see them. Not even sure if I have 1 or 2 left of the original 3. They have several holes around the tank that they like, and even excavated some of their own.
 
I'd say it took about 4-6 weeks before mine decided to come out of hiding. He still doesn't come out a ton, but I can see him here and there throughout the day.
 
its very shy fish and when it comes to find out other inhabitants and their behavior she will come out just give it a little time to be comfortable in her new house
 
This is typical behavior. Mine do that too. They always stick by their cave and only come out to feed and graze. I will see them race out and then right back to their cave. However, mine have never eaten shrimp or other inverts.
 
I have had my royal gramma for about 10yrs. He often hides out in the shadows, and he does have a favorite hole in the rock that he dives into all the time. so, I would guess its perfectly normal.

mine has never had a problem with anything, other than occasionally defending his territory
 
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