Sudden Royal Gramma real aggression

[bat21]

Ok, so my royal gramma has always been kinda of an ***. Doesn't like anyone and spends most of his time in his cave. The whole time I've had him the only thing I've seen him do was open his mouth at other fish. Totally harmless. But today, while I was watching the tank, he grabbed my female clown by the gill area and held on for a good couple seconds. It was pretty violent. The clown is fine, but now I'm worried about this guy hurting someone.

In the 16 months I've had the tank this is the first real act of violence I've seen (besides the damsel I returned way way back). I tried very hard to create the most peaceful tank possible. So what should I do? Should I move around the rocks that form his cave, so that he doesn't have that to defend anymore? Or would that make him more ****ed off? Any advice is welcome.

 

[bat21]

(bump) :sad2:

 

[Joke]

How long has the clown been in there?

 

[bat21]

The clown is oddly enough the only fish that has been in the tank longer than the gramma. The clown about 15 months. The gramma about 13 months.

 

[OrionN]

Is it a Royal Gramma or Brazilian Gramma. There is minor coloration changes but Brazilian Gramma is much more aggressive.

Brazilian Gramma

 

[ricks49reef]

Are you sure your Royal Gamma hasn't always been a dottyback?

 

[OrionN]

I keep Royal Gramma for many years (near 20). The only time I see aggressive Royal Gramma is when I have two males in my 450 gal tank. The older males getting weak and old after about 5 years or so, one of the female change to male and killed him.
Other than that, the most my Royal Gramma ever do are bare their mouth at other fish. Never ever bite.

 

[bat21]

Definitely a royal gramma. And 99% sure it's not Brazilian. He only ever opened his mouth at fish until this incident.

What would you guys do in my shoes? Would taking his cave away make him lash out even more?

 

[OrionN]

Three strike and he is out. He still have two more.

 

[malx]

Three strike and he is out. He still have two more.

I would just monitor him carefully. Maybe he had a bad day? Lost his job? But seriously, if he did it two more times, and it was my tank, I'd give him away and get another gramma.

 

[bat21]

I would just monitor him carefully. Maybe he had a bad day? Lost his job? But seriously, if he did it two more times, and it was my tank, I'd give him away and get another gramma.

Yeah. I am going to go this route. I'd love a gramma that I actually saw more often

 

[water is wet]

Yeah. I am going to go this route. I'd love a gramma that I actually saw more often

If you want that get a bigger tank they act completely different they are always out and about. My first one years ago was in a 36g bowfront and behaved like you are describing. I had 6 in the 450 and they all had their zones but would oftentimes travel all over the tank.

 

[malx]

Yeah. I am going to go this route. I'd love a gramma that I actually saw more often

Maybe it's a blessing in disguise. You'll get one that you see more. Good luck and keep me posted on what happens. I plan on getting one for my tank so I'm very interested in how yours works out! Good luck.