Royal Gramma + NLS Pellets?

[brett559]

One of the conditions for getting a tank at my office was no frozen food - coworkers not wanting "gross fish food" in office freezer, etc.

So I've been using NLS pellets, small size. The current inhabitants (clowns, mystery wrasse, flame angel) are loving it. They feed at the surface since these pellets don't really sink.

I'd like to add a Royal Gramma. My research shows that these fish will eat pellets, but I'm wondering if they will actively go after them at the surface. Any success with RGs and pellets? They are known to be a very easy and hardy fish (I've kept them before, but always with frozen food), but I need to make sure they can do okay with pellets only.

 

[tharkins]

I have a had a royal gramma for about a month and he eats hikari pellets well. It has taken him a little bit to get comfortable in the tank to feed with the other fish as he is a bit shy and doesn't venture too far from his cave. But you should be fine.

 

[Deinonych]

My Royal Gramma eats everything I put in the tank - NLS pellets (0.5mm and 1.0mm), mysis, Reef Frenzy, Rod's, you name it. They are not finicky fish IME.

 

[bat21]

Mine prefers other food, but if I only fed pellets, I'm positive he'd eat them just fine.

 

[jraker]

royal grammas are carnivores. they will like mysis shrimp over pellets, but i fed mine pellets. until he decided to get ich 3 times in a row.

 

[hogfanreefer]

My NLS pellets sink just fine. Get a small cup and put some tank water in it. Add the pellets and swirl them around till they fall to the bottom. Usually only takes a few seconds. My RG eats anything you want to feed.

 

[Moray26]

My RG is currently in a breeder box on the back of my tank, and is eating NLS pellets. He doesn't seem to mind them now, but before he wouldn't touch them. You may have some trouble having the RG actively go after the food with the other fish as the seem more timid.

 

[Nanighan]

Mine eats them. If other fish are eating NLS, it should not be problem for it to get use to it.

 

[bat21]

Most of my fish like the pellets better when they are softer. So I let them sit in a bit of water first. They also seem to sink a little slower this way, which gives the fish more time to grab them.

 

[brett559]

Thanks for the input!

I think I'll give some frozen food a try - maybe no one will notice. I'll probably throw in some NLS pellets with the thawing shrimp and dump it all in together.

Thanks again!

 

[running scott]

My royal gramma eats pellets just fine, but I don't think you will ever see a gramma feeding on the surface unless you tank is really shallow!

 

[zooman72]

My NLS pellets sink just fine. Get a small cup and put some tank water in it. Add the pellets and swirl them around till they fall to the bottom. Usually only takes a few seconds. My RG eats anything you want to feed.

Most of my fish like the pellets better when they are softer. So I let them sit in a bit of water first. They also seem to sink a little slower this way, which gives the fish more time to grab them.

My royal gramma eats pellets just fine, but I don't think you will ever see a gramma feeding on the surface unless you tank is really shallow!

All correct and sage advice - my 6 grammas will eat pre-saoked pellets without issue, and have done so for quite a while. I also feed frozen brine and mysis shrimp, krill and ocean plankton for variety, but I am sure they could survive on just the pellets. I feed both NLS and Formula 1 pellets.

 

[Deinonych]

My royal gramma eats pellets just fine, but I don't think you will ever see a gramma feeding on the surface unless you tank is really shallow!

+1

My wrasses always peck at the surface when I feed pellets while my RG looks longingly at them, wondering what the heck they are doing.