Royal Gramma... A waste of bioload and money :(

Spork3245 · 03/06/2014, 05:06 PM

I've had this guy for about 4 weeks now. On the 2nd or 3rd day I had him he was out and swimming about by his "rock home" on occasion, but ever since then he just hides all day and pops out for a moment during feedings, he won't even swim out from his "home" much anymore and waits for food to float by him. To be honest, over the past 2 days, I'm not even sure if he's been eating.

He's a very brightly colored and nice-looking fish and *would* be a great addition if he wasn't hiding all the darn time! Is there any way to coax him on coming out more? I'm honestly a bit worried as he's almost overly-shy.

houstonhobby · 03/06/2014, 05:11 PM

Wow, google "Royal Gramma" and "Royal Gramma Hiding" comes up as a possible choice. And that one has a choice called "Royal Gramma death". Things are not looking good here.

mcozad829 · 03/06/2014, 05:11 PM

Same Problem with my snowflake eel i've had for 6 months. I see his head when I feed, he'll grab a silverside and disappear for another 24 hrs. best o' luck

nlgill13 · 03/06/2014, 05:14 PM

what other fish do you have in your tank...if its an aggressive tank he is in a bad spot and you should probably find a new home for him.

JackandJill · 03/06/2014, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlgill13

what other fish do you have in your tank...if its an aggressive tank he is in a bad spot and you should probably find a new home for him.

I would guess this would be the issue at hand

snorvich · 03/06/2014, 05:34 PM

They generally will have a relatively small territory that they will guard and they tend to be somewhat reclusive within that territory. However if there are fish in the tank that intimidate the RG, it will remain in hiding. Most likely a behavioral issue.

trinidiver · 03/06/2014, 05:41 PM

I have a royal gramma going on 2 yrs now and he is always out and about. He does guard a few holes here and there but real nice fella. Its how he tries to intimidate other fish by opening his jaw wide. He hid the firs week when I got him cause the tangs were kinda bullies. Now he holds his own. Nice color

Sk8r · 03/06/2014, 06:22 PM

I have a damsel tank and mine is out and about generally. Certain fish are 'dither fish' or 'reassurance fish,' and if they're out and about, there are no sharks, etc. You might need some such fish as, say, a chromis, to reassure the gramma.

Aaaron · 03/06/2014, 06:23 PM

Mine is out all the time

hogfanreefer · 03/06/2014, 07:56 PM

Mine is constantly out and about. He uses the entire 6 feet of the tank though he guards his sleeping spot a good portion of the time.

My tank is mainly wrasse, a pair of clowns and a Watanabei angel. Are there aggressive fish in your tank?

Spork3245 · 03/06/2014, 08:06 PM

I have a non-aggressive tank for the most part (90 gallon, standard 4' size):

2x Cleaner Shrimp
1x Neon Goby
1x Red Headed Solon Fairy Wrasse
1x Diamond Goby
1x One Spot Foxface
1x Flame Angel
2x Ocellaris Clown Fish

The only real possible bully is the Flame Angel but he/she leaves everyone alone for the most part, occasional chasing but only for a split second and likely to show "dominance", no biting or extremes. All other fish seem happy.

mcozad829 · 03/06/2014, 08:09 PM

I have had 2 flame angels and they were both bullies... could be why your gramma won't come out and play. That being said I wouldn't dream of giving up a flame angel so a gramma didn't feel threatened.

03/06/2014, 05:06 PM	#1
Spork3245 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Central New Jersey Posts: 1,088	Royal Gramma... A waste of bioload and money :( I've had this guy for about 4 weeks now. On the 2nd or 3rd day I had him he was out and swimming about by his "rock home" on occasion, but ever since then he just hides all day and pops out for a moment during feedings, he won't even swim out from his "home" much anymore and waits for food to float by him. To be honest, over the past 2 days, I'm not even sure if he's been eating. He's a very brightly colored and nice-looking fish and would be a great addition if he wasn't hiding all the darn time! Is there any way to coax him on coming out more? I'm honestly a bit worried as he's almost overly-shy.

03/06/2014, 05:11 PM	#2
houstonhobby Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 175	Wow, google "Royal Gramma" and "Royal Gramma Hiding" comes up as a possible choice. And that one has a choice called "Royal Gramma death". Things are not looking good here. __________________ 210 gallon wanna-be reef, 125 gallon sump. Bubble-Magus NAC-77.

03/06/2014, 05:14 PM	#4
nlgill13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boulder,CO Posts: 1,291	what other fish do you have in your tank...if its an aggressive tank he is in a bad spot and you should probably find a new home for him. __________________ 90G DT w/ 30G sump, 2 Apollo SolarBlast Dimmable LEDs, 160 Reef Octopus Extreme, Neptune Apex, Mag 7, MP10 & MP40

03/06/2014, 05:41 PM	#7
trinidiver Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Sweet Trinidad & Tobago. (West Indies) Posts: 1,141	I have a royal gramma going on 2 yrs now and he is always out and about. He does guard a few holes here and there but real nice fella. Its how he tries to intimidate other fish by opening his jaw wide. He hid the firs week when I got him cause the tangs were kinda bullies. Now he holds his own. Nice color __________________ Always expect anything from your friends......they will shoot you down as they get a chance. Current Tank Info: Its a 220gal reef.......LPS/leathers/zoas. Check my album.

03/06/2014, 06:22 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I have a damsel tank and mine is out and about generally. Certain fish are 'dither fish' or 'reassurance fish,' and if they're out and about, there are no sharks, etc. You might need some such fish as, say, a chromis, to reassure the gramma. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/06/2014, 05:11 PM	#3
mcozad829 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Natchitoches, LA Posts: 619 Blog Entries: 1	Same Problem with my snowflake eel i've had for 6 months. I see his head when I feed, he'll grab a silverside and disappear for another 24 hrs. best o' luck

03/06/2014, 05:34 PM	#6
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	They generally will have a relatively small territory that they will guard and they tend to be somewhat reclusive within that territory. However if there are fish in the tank that intimidate the RG, it will remain in hiding. Most likely a behavioral issue.

03/06/2014, 06:23 PM	#9
Aaaron Moved On Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 245	Mine is out all the time

03/06/2014, 07:56 PM	#10
hogfanreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 2,117	Mine is constantly out and about. He uses the entire 6 feet of the tank though he guards his sleeping spot a good portion of the time. My tank is mainly wrasse, a pair of clowns and a Watanabei angel. Are there aggressive fish in your tank? __________________ DSA 155,Custom Trigger 42" sump/refugium, MP40 X2, MP 10 X 2, AI Hydra 52 X3, Apex controller, Tunze ATO Current Tank Info: DSA 155 gallon, mixed reef, SPS and wrasse dominant

03/06/2014, 08:06 PM	#11
Spork3245 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Central New Jersey Posts: 1,088	I have a non-aggressive tank for the most part (90 gallon, standard 4' size): 2x Cleaner Shrimp 1x Neon Goby 1x Red Headed Solon Fairy Wrasse 1x Diamond Goby 1x One Spot Foxface 1x Flame Angel 2x Ocellaris Clown Fish The only real possible bully is the Flame Angel but he/she leaves everyone alone for the most part, occasional chasing but only for a split second and likely to show "dominance", no biting or extremes. All other fish seem happy.

03/06/2014, 08:09 PM	#12
mcozad829 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Natchitoches, LA Posts: 619 Blog Entries: 1	I have had 2 flame angels and they were both bullies... could be why your gramma won't come out and play. That being said I wouldn't dream of giving up a flame angel so a gramma didn't feel threatened.