Royal gramma compatability?

[Virginia Reef]

I currently have a blackcap basslet, pair of perculas, several tangs, and a longnose butterfly in a 225. I plan to add a couple of fairy or flasher wrasses in the future. I know someone who wants to give me a royal gramma. I've heard that these are somewhat territorial. Should I expect future problems if I take the royal gramma? The wrasses are more important to me than the royal gramma.

Thanks.

 

[LisaD]

if you are putting it into a 225, I don't see a problem, except maybe with the black cap basslet (and that could go both ways). and they could divide out over the tank and establish separate territories.

I had a gramma for many years, and it never bothered any fish. the most it did was stare a fish down while gaping at it. I'd be careful if another fish had the same colors. I assume the fairy or flasher wrasses will be colored differently?

 

[Virginia Reef]

The blackcap is 4+" and quite stout. The wrasses would almost certainly be of different color.

 

[Gwynhidwy]

I think it could work in a tank of that size, but it is a risk. If either the black cap or royal gramma are particularly aggressive individuals you will likely see some aggression, but I think it is more likely that they will establish separate territories. And, you could luck out and get a gramma like mine, he never bothers any thing, even though he was the second fish in the tank.

 

[LisaD]

grammas are really great fish. I'd try it, even though there is a risk. rearrange the rock a bit if you have aggression problems, make sure each has areas they can claim as territory on opposite ends of the tank. I'd get as large a gramma as you can find.

 

[wanabebell]

the wrasse and the gramma wont have problems but the basslet and the gramma may have so issues to settle out

 

[philter4]

Royal grammas live in huge colonies and they do great in a group. In the wild there are black caps mixed with the grammas after about 100+ft and they do well, I had a 40 gal deep water reef (I've upgraded to 90) and it had 3 royal gramma and a black cap with no problems.

 

[LisaD]

my understanding was that an unmated pair of grammas would fight. I had not heard that they will live in groups in a tank. nice to hear they will coexist with black caps too.

 

[Virginia Reef]

Thanks all for your replies. I'll give it a try.

 

[mflamb]

My Royal Gramma is territorial, but only "ownes" an area about half the size of a 5 gallon bucket. He "mildly" defends it.

 

[stykthyn]

my gramma staked out all 55 gallons of my reef. even had a pair of percs pinned into the corner. heaven help them if they left the safety of their frogspwan.

 

[SeaWeed89]

I HAVE ALSO HAD A ROYAL THAT WAS VERY MEAN. HE HELD HIS OWN 2 FT. AREA IN A 125 FROM A 12" GREEN WOLF EEL