Royal Gramma Hiding Unusually

[rwthompson82]

Hi,

I have my royal gramma for about 3 months.

The last two days it has been hiding in a cave where I cannot see it. It is normally very active and always out swimming.

If I move the rock, it will swim out, and return to the rock ASAP.

This coincided with adding a new purple fire fish. It has never had an issue before with new fish.

I'm worried it has stopped eating...although I imagine there could be something to eat in the cave.

It was the third fish in the tank. First two were a pair of perc clowns. Also have a watchman goby, pistol shrimp, cleaner shrimp and cuc.

Parameters are all okay (nitrates around 5-10, but they have always been at that level).

I assume it is because of the firefish, but even
Putting the firefish in a small quarantine for 6 hours, it did not leave the cave.

Any thoughts?

 

[Marshall O]

When my RG was the only fish in the tank, it was always out in the open. As more fish were added, it spent less and less time out in the open. Eventually the only time it came out was to find. I am guessing it is the same case here, but it should still come out to eat.

 

[ace_92101]

Don't forget that in nature they spend most of their time near overhangs and ledges. That said, as they become more comfortable in an aquarium they'll venture out more.