Royal Gramma

[agranoff]

I purchased a Royal Gramma three days ago. After accilimating it, I placed it in my tank and it bolted to a cave. It sticks its head out and leaves the cave but never goes more than a few inches away.

When I feed the tank, it leaves the cave but never gets to the food because it won't leave the area.

Should I be concerned it hasn't been able to eat?

Should I target feed in some way or just wait until its gets hungry and confident enough to go after food?

I have one other fish - a pretty aggressive Perc Clown so I don't know if some of the fear is due to this fish.

Thanks.

 

[Blown 346]

Its normal for a new fish to not eat the first few days. The fish has to get adjusted to its new surroundings. You can try and supplement with some garlic to entice the fish to eat.

 

[OrionN]

I would squirt the food to near him. Turn of water movement so that the food settle slowly where you want it to settle. RG are easy fish to get adapt to aquarium as long as they are helathy.
Depends on you aquarium size, you can have a harem of these guys and they will spawn in your aquarium.
The dominant RG will turn male and the rest will stay as females. Word of caution, male will fight to the death. My 450 g tank was not big enough for 2 males. They turn male rather quick. I have seen small RG stay by himself as short as 1 week become male.

 

[agranoff]

Thanks for the replies.

I only have 1 royal gramma in a 16 gallon.

The one other fish is a Perc Clownfish who is pretty aggressive - so much so I had to return my other clown to the fish store because after 5 weeks of bullying he wouldn't leave the rocks and was dieing. I figured it was the typical female asserting dominanace since the larger of the two was the bully but the smaller Clown was unable to get to food and was terrified. Was pretty concerning. So I am concerned about this new fish even though its a different species.

I was planning on target feeding some corals tonight so I think I will put some food near the fish as well.

Thanks

 

[MrTuskfish]

A Perc. clown needs more room, IMO & IME. All clowns are territorial and even a single percula will claim more than 16 gals. I doubt if a RG and any clown will do well, long-term, in a 16 gal tank. I think a RG is too small for this tank also. You have a very small tank and should be looking at very small tank fish; here's a start:http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15+2124

 

[Tangnerd]

Royal grammas can be pretty shy and will hide when anyone sees them at first. Just give the fish some time.

 

[snorvich]

A Perc. clown needs more room, IMO & IME. All clowns are territorial and even a single percula will claim more than 16 gals. I doubt if a RG and any clown will do well, long-term, in a 16 gal tank. I think a RG is too small for this tank also. You have a very small tank and should be looking at very small tank fish; here's a start:http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15+2124

These two fish in this sized tank may not work out well as MrTuskfish said

 

[ken6217]

I had a Royal Gramma for about 6 years before I took that tank down. I never saw him except feeding time. He always stayed in the rocks.
Ken

 

[Megatrev62]

Have royal gramma that I could not see for about 4- 5 days, then out he comes. Out all over the tank now. If healthy just give it time.