Thinking about adding a royal gramma

Doobze · 11/24/2009, 02:55 AM

What are your guys' experiences with them?

I ask because I'm thinking about another fish in the future. My tank is a 46g bowfront, 10g sump running an OctoExtreme 160 (which takes up almost my whole sump haha), 50+ lbs. of live rock, running gfo and carbon, and dosing MB7, been running with 0 nitrates for weeks. Its tankmates would be a

1 yellow watchman goby
2 ocellaris clowns
1 six line wrasse
1 skunk cleaner shrimp
1 peppermint shrimp
1 sand sifting sea star (yes, I know, used it to help clean my sand when diatoms reared, going to return him soon)

I also plan to turn start adding a few corals shortly. Would all of that be overstocked?

Would there be any compatability issues or things I'd have to worry about with that list?

Also, how are your guys' royal grammas, personality wise?

meatball87 · 11/24/2009, 03:18 AM

go ahead u have a good skimmer for the tank so u wont be over the bioload. but just one these fish r very territorial and have large territories so hope all goes well for u

kcreefer86 · 11/24/2009, 03:21 AM

sounds like a good idea to me..i would add him

f1shb0y · 11/24/2009, 07:07 AM

royal grammas are great... mine hid wen we got him for about a week. we didnt see him at all then he was out all the time but we lost power for 16 hours one day and he died unfortunately

albano · 11/24/2009, 07:40 AM

Gramma is great fish, it's 'start' and 'stop' movements, make it appear to be checking things out... but 6 line could be problem, they can become very aggressive.

thegrun · 11/24/2009, 08:24 AM

I have both a six line and a royal in my 28 nano, no problems. The 6 line was a little aggressive for the first 3 months I had him, but he settled down and is now a model citizen. The royal does tend to defend his cave, but the other fish know this and all is well.

autodave · 11/24/2009, 08:28 AM

Great fish -one of my fav's.They like to hang out in caves but will also cruise all over.

mnchartier · 11/24/2009, 09:57 AM

Great fish, mine loves to hide out in little holes in the live rock. Don't be worried if you see it always at an angle instead of horizontal, that is normal and is quite interesting to watch. People see it and they ask what is wrong with that fish but there is nothing wrong. Nice splash of color also.

Mine kind of similar stock minus the wrasse (90 Gal 100Gal sump)
2 - B&W ocellaris clowns
1 - Yellow Watchman/Pistol Shrimp
2- Bangiaii Cardinals
1 - Yellow Eyed Kole Tang
2 - Cleaner Shrimp
1 - Royal Gramma

Rybren · 11/24/2009, 10:08 AM

I have one in my 30G along with 1 false perc, 1 PJ Cardinal, and 1 Hector's Goby. All get along fine. The Gramma is a bit skittish and usually darts into the rockwork as soon as anyone approaches the tank but then comes out to check out the action within 30 seconds or so.

elegance coral · 11/24/2009, 10:58 AM

One of the most well behaved reef safe fish available. The fact that it's one of the best looking doesn't hert either. Probably my favorite.

quickgray02 · 11/24/2009, 11:02 AM

I would go ahead and add one mine does great but he did hide a little at first.

vames · 11/24/2009, 11:03 AM

I agree with what everyone here said. I just added a royal gramma to my tank last night! (a 46 bow, and he joins two occelaris and a coral banded shrimp...sounds like we've got similar setups). He immediately disappeared, but actually came out this morning and took some flake food. He's already got a favorite hiding spot, and is fun to watch. Looking forward to him, and good luck with yours!

MrineLfRlz · 11/24/2009, 01:49 PM

ive had mine for about a year and i really like it!
well behaved and great color
you shouldnt be disappointed

AndrewG · 11/24/2009, 04:34 PM

Meanest little bugger I've ever owned was a Royal Gramma. Darn thing would peck at my arm every time I cleaned the tank. It was definately trying to take a piece out of me and was probably double pizzed off that it's mouth wasn't big enough to do it. It never bothered any other fish or corals but when it died it was replaced by a sunrise dottyback that is only slightly less mean. His attitude got a little adjusted after attacking the end of a siphon tube and having the end of his head recalibrated after being sucked in

cveverly · 11/24/2009, 06:45 PM

I have a pair and have no issues with them. Mine are easy going and non-destructive. They are not real animated until feeding time.

11/24/2009, 02:55 AM	#1
Doobze Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 246	Thinking about adding a royal gramma What are your guys' experiences with them? I ask because I'm thinking about another fish in the future. My tank is a 46g bowfront, 10g sump running an OctoExtreme 160 (which takes up almost my whole sump haha), 50+ lbs. of live rock, running gfo and carbon, and dosing MB7, been running with 0 nitrates for weeks. Its tankmates would be a 1 yellow watchman goby 2 ocellaris clowns 1 six line wrasse 1 skunk cleaner shrimp 1 peppermint shrimp 1 sand sifting sea star (yes, I know, used it to help clean my sand when diatoms reared, going to return him soon) I also plan to turn start adding a few corals shortly. Would all of that be overstocked? Would there be any compatability issues or things I'd have to worry about with that list? Also, how are your guys' royal grammas, personality wise?

11/24/2009, 07:40 AM	#5
albano SALTWATER since '73 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Katonah, NY/ San Fernando Ca./ Sea Isle City NJ Posts: 6,210	Gramma is great fish, it's 'start' and 'stop' movements, make it appear to be checking things out... but 6 line could be problem, they can become very aggressive. __________________ ______________________________________ Jan. '11 TOTM Manhattan Reefs Current Tank Info: 500g & 200g acrylic DTs/2 separate reef systems

11/24/2009, 01:49 PM	#13
MrineLfRlz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: eldon M.O. Posts: 1,167	ive had mine for about a year and i really like it! well behaved and great color you shouldnt be disappointed __________________ Jim its not a obsession its a way of life!--75g DT/125g sump/40g growout/30g frag/ATI sun power x8/t5 on DT/X2 D120 leds 40g/Sun blaze x4/t5 30g Current Tank Info: BubbleMagus(calc.,alk/Clearwater CW-300 Scrubber//56wAQUA UV/Reef Oct.SRO6000SSS Protein sk./1/10HP Chiller/GENESIS AWC

11/24/2009, 03:18 AM	#2
meatball87 tang freak Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: london oh Posts: 258	go ahead u have a good skimmer for the tank so u wont be over the bioload. but just one these fish r very territorial and have large territories so hope all goes well for u

11/24/2009, 03:21 AM	#3
kcreefer86 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 213	sounds like a good idea to me..i would add him

11/24/2009, 07:07 AM	#4
f1shb0y Moved On Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 111	royal grammas are great... mine hid wen we got him for about a week. we didnt see him at all then he was out all the time but we lost power for 16 hours one day and he died unfortunately

11/24/2009, 08:24 AM	#6
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I have both a six line and a royal in my 28 nano, no problems. The 6 line was a little aggressive for the first 3 months I had him, but he settled down and is now a model citizen. The royal does tend to defend his cave, but the other fish know this and all is well.

11/24/2009, 08:28 AM	#7
autodave Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Menifee,Ca. Posts: 484	Great fish -one of my fav's.They like to hang out in caves but will also cruise all over.

11/24/2009, 09:57 AM	#8
mnchartier Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oh look a river Posts: 458	Great fish, mine loves to hide out in little holes in the live rock. Don't be worried if you see it always at an angle instead of horizontal, that is normal and is quite interesting to watch. People see it and they ask what is wrong with that fish but there is nothing wrong. Nice splash of color also. Mine kind of similar stock minus the wrasse (90 Gal 100Gal sump) 2 - B&W ocellaris clowns 1 - Yellow Watchman/Pistol Shrimp 2- Bangiaii Cardinals 1 - Yellow Eyed Kole Tang 2 - Cleaner Shrimp 1 - Royal Gramma

11/24/2009, 10:08 AM	#9
Rybren Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,642	I have one in my 30G along with 1 false perc, 1 PJ Cardinal, and 1 Hector's Goby. All get along fine. The Gramma is a bit skittish and usually darts into the rockwork as soon as anyone approaches the tank but then comes out to check out the action within 30 seconds or so.

11/24/2009, 10:58 AM	#10
elegance coral They call me EC Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: central Florida Posts: 6,208	One of the most well behaved reef safe fish available. The fact that it's one of the best looking doesn't hert either. Probably my favorite.

11/24/2009, 11:02 AM	#11
quickgray02 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sherman, TX Posts: 89	I would go ahead and add one mine does great but he did hide a little at first.

11/24/2009, 11:03 AM	#12
vames Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 75	I agree with what everyone here said. I just added a royal gramma to my tank last night! (a 46 bow, and he joins two occelaris and a coral banded shrimp...sounds like we've got similar setups). He immediately disappeared, but actually came out this morning and took some flake food. He's already got a favorite hiding spot, and is fun to watch. Looking forward to him, and good luck with yours!

11/24/2009, 04:34 PM	#14
AndrewG Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brownsburg IN Posts: 97	Meanest little bugger I've ever owned was a Royal Gramma. Darn thing would peck at my arm every time I cleaned the tank. It was definately trying to take a piece out of me and was probably double pizzed off that it's mouth wasn't big enough to do it. It never bothered any other fish or corals but when it died it was replaced by a sunrise dottyback that is only slightly less mean. His attitude got a little adjusted after attacking the end of a siphon tube and having the end of his head recalibrated after being sucked in

11/24/2009, 06:45 PM	#15
cveverly Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Port Clinton, Oh Posts: 1,470	I have a pair and have no issues with them. Mine are easy going and non-destructive. They are not real animated until feeding time.