Royal gramma swimming upside down

[brett559]

I got a Royal Gramma last week. The first few days it was completely hidden in my rocks - I thought it might never come back. Now it hangs out nearby where it was hiding in a cave. He is swimming upside. Not floating, but swimming upside down. He's active and will dart in and out of the rock work.

Is that normal?

 

[maddmaxx]

if hes swimming upside down near his hiding spot. then i wouldnt worry. but if hes out in the open swimming upside down, then i would be concerned..

 

[brett559]

Yeah, he's totally in his hiding spot. Any chance he'll come out and play?

 

[jeperry3]

In the wild they seem to orient more to their chosen spot than to gravity. Makes them cool to watch. Same thing in the aquarium. He'll venture out more as he becomes accustomed to his surroundings.

 

[JoelA7]

Normal behavior for RG. In a cave or by a wall they often orient so their belly is "down" toward the surface. Very cool.

 

[whosurcaddie]

Totally normal. Cool little fish.

 

[uncleL]

That is a crazy fish! I may not see my fish for a month at a time and it swims the same way!

 

[biomek]

just added one to my DT about a month ago and he's out all the dang time. But yeah, when he's near his hole, he swims at every angle except "normal" lol awesome fish!

 

[m0nkie]

my royal gramma and clowns do the same. sometimes they sleep facing up or facing sand