Blackcap or Royal Gramma?

Salty Brother · 08/02/2006, 07:36 PM

I would like your opinion between these two fish. They are both really cool, but I really can only have one. It will be with my exsiting fish and along with a coral beauty in a 40 breeder with lots of swimming room.
So if you could please vote, and then tell me about experiences.
Thanks alot!
Patrick

Angel*Fish · 08/02/2006, 07:48 PM

You've gotta love a purple fish

Andrew · 08/02/2006, 08:35 PM

Both are nice looking fish but I always liked the royal gramma for some reason. I have one in QT right now getting ready to go into my 75.

masterqaz · 08/02/2006, 08:37 PM

both are pretty fish though the BC's can be a bit more aggressive and around here are quite a bit more $$. I'd take the RG over the BC simply because they have the yellow. If you like purple you could also try a magneta dottyback, I find them to be a brighter purple than the BC.

masterqaz · 08/02/2006, 08:39 PM

BTW black caps go for about 60-80 around here whereas royals go for 20-30 depending on the type of royal. (standard vs Brazilian) I'll include picks.

Salty Brother · 08/02/2006, 08:41 PM

ya i was thinking about that
I think they are like $60 here and rg like $30, idk i have some thinking to do

masterqaz · 08/02/2006, 08:45 PM

alright so here they are..... Starting with the brazilian. Basic differences are the more gradual change from purple to yellow, They are also slighty larger more aggresive and dont have the black strike through the eye.

And the regular which is pretty much the opposite of the brazil, Strike through eye, not so gradual change in colour etc.

rickh · 08/02/2006, 10:34 PM

I love the Black Cap, but they are a shy deep water fish that tend to hide all the time. I decided on the $20 Gramma over the $60 see-it-once-a-day Black Cap. R

Angel*Fish · 08/03/2006, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rickh
I love the Black Cap, but they are a shy deep water fish that tend to hide all the time. I decided on the $20 Gramma over the $60 see-it-once-a-day Black Cap. R

This wasn't my experience at all. I think the tankmates may have something to do with whether or not it's hiding. They do need an open cave area to retreat to, but otherwise mine didn't show a tendency to stay in his cave at all.

For some reason the blackcaps have bad reps - some say they are shy and on the other hand they also have a reputation for being aggressive -

FWIW some say that if you get a male, with maturity it can become aggressive. And mine did hide a lot the first week in the tank.

Anyway now I've gotten rid of the aggressive fish that harassed mine to death, I plan on getting another one

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...p&pagenumber=1

falconut · 08/03/2006, 10:18 AM

I've had my Royal Gramma for over 2 years. He was originally in my 44 gal. pentagon tank. I moved him to my current 90 gal. along with a pair of Ocellarous Clowns.

I have added many fish since he's been in there and the most he does is open his mouth to scare the new fish away from his cave. He stays around his cave most of the time, except near feeding time, then he swims out in the open like the rest.

I never had a BC. My Royal Gramma was around $15 and the BC's were somewhere around $60-$70. That had alot to do with my decision. HTH

xtrstangx · 08/03/2006, 10:25 AM

I like Royal Grammas more. Never owned either fish though..

CeeGee · 08/03/2006, 11:07 AM

I really like my RG. He is very fat and has been a good pet. Gets along fairly well with my fairy and flasher wrasse.

Salty Brother · 08/03/2006, 11:41 AM

Thanks for the help everyone, I think I am going to go with the rg just because I cant afford a $60 fish right now.

masterqaz · 08/03/2006, 11:42 AM

which type of Rg you going to go for?

Salty Brother · 08/03/2006, 11:47 AM

I think the regular one, I think it looks better than the brazilan one.

masterqaz · 08/03/2006, 11:49 AM

i agree with you on that one. For some reason my girlfriend like that brazilian one better and i never understood why.

CivilReef · 08/03/2006, 12:07 PM

Royal Grammas are better because they are out more.

Angel*Fish · 08/03/2006, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Salty Brother
Thanks for the help everyone, I think I am going to go with the rg just because I cant afford a $60 fish right now.

The RG's are stunning fish - I had one once upon a time which was murdered by a bicolor blenny - (I've heard of others coexisting with bicolor blennies though)

Just a word- be sure and feed it well, I read somewhere without excellent nutrition, they can develop head & lateral line disease over time

And post pics!

agilis · 08/03/2006, 06:44 PM

"Regular" Royal Grammas are very variable, with substantial local differences in color distribution. Those from the northerly end of their range, Florida and the Bahamas, tend to be similar to the Brazilian's, with the yellow section being larger than the magenta. Grammas from mid to southern Caribbean areas have much more magenta; in some areas, like Jamaica and Haiti, nearly 2/3 magenta. Apparently, going even further south, well below the Equator and consequently back into latitudes that resemble the Florida/Bahamian extreme end of the fish's range, it seems that yellow again predominates.

Because these fish are mouth brooders, and tend to live in self-sustaining population colonies, there is probably less random distribution of the young and a greater tendency toward localized gene pools. In many years of observing and collecting Grammas, I've noticed that there is very little variation of color distribution within local populations, but a great deal of difference from island to island.

Angel*Fish · 08/04/2006, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by agilis
"Regular" Royal Grammas are very variable, with substantial local differences in color distribution. Those from the northerly end of their range, Florida and the Bahamas, tend to be similar to the Brazilian's, with the yellow section being larger than the magenta. Grammas from mid to southern Caribbean areas have much more magenta; in some areas, like Jamaica and Haiti, nearly 2/3 magenta. Apparently, going even further south, well below the Equator and consequently back into latitudes that resemble the Florida/Bahamian extreme end of the fish's range, it seems that yellow again predominates.

Because these fish are mouth brooders, and tend to live in self-sustaining population colonies, there is probably less random distribution of the young and a greater tendency toward localized gene pools. In many years of observing and collecting Grammas, I've noticed that there is very little variation of color distribution within local populations, but a great deal of difference from island to island.

Wow that was impressive

In a way then -----I have noticed this same thing* at my LFS but didn't know it! I actually thought maybe some days I just like these fish more depending on my mood

Well then ...some of them are definitely more stunning - I noticed some amazing ones at the LFS here just in the last few weeks. Good to know.

Edit * By "same thing" - I just mean I thought I noticed they don't all look exactly alike - not trying to imply any real knowlege or special powers of observation

CeeGee · 08/05/2006, 01:07 PM

I have a couple of nice fairy wra$$e$ and my wife still thinks the $12 royal gramma is the prettiest fish in the tank. I kinda agree with her as it is one of the best looking grammas I have ever seen if I do say so myself.

View Poll Results: Blackcap or Royal Gramma?
Blackcap	12	30.77%
Royal Gramma	27	69.23%
Voters: 39. You may not vote on this poll

08/02/2006, 07:36 PM	#1
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	Blackcap or Royal Gramma? I would like your opinion between these two fish. They are both really cool, but I really can only have one. It will be with my exsiting fish and along with a coral beauty in a 40 breeder with lots of swimming room. So if you could please vote, and then tell me about experiences. Thanks alot! Patrick

08/02/2006, 07:48 PM	#2
Angel*Fish cats and large squashes Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Houston Posts: 5,951 Blog Entries: 1	You've gotta love a purple fish __________________ Marie So long, & thanks for all the fish! __________________________ Current Tank Info: Pairs: flame angels, cherub angels, Red Sea mimic blennies, yellow fin fairy wrasses, clowns, mandarins, blackcap basslets, shrimp gobies, damsels, dispar anthias, yellow clown gobies, threadfin cardinals --- Tanks: 100g reef, 2 x 30g refugiums

08/03/2006, 10:18 AM	#10
falconut Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blackwood, NJ Posts: 3,813	I've had my Royal Gramma for over 2 years. He was originally in my 44 gal. pentagon tank. I moved him to my current 90 gal. along with a pair of Ocellarous Clowns. I have added many fish since he's been in there and the most he does is open his mouth to scare the new fish away from his cave. He stays around his cave most of the time, except near feeding time, then he swims out in the open like the rest. I never had a BC. My Royal Gramma was around $15 and the BC's were somewhere around $60-$70. That had alot to do with my decision. HTH __________________ 180 Gallon FOWLR, 40 Gallon Sump and 10 Gallon Refuge. (2) OceanRevive S026 LEDs, ASM G2 Skimmer & SCA-302 Skimmer. Setup since July 2017.

08/03/2006, 11:07 AM	#12
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	I really like my RG. He is very fat and has been a good pet. Gets along fairly well with my fairy and flasher wrasse. __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's

08/02/2006, 08:35 PM	#3
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	Both are nice looking fish but I always liked the royal gramma for some reason. I have one in QT right now getting ready to go into my 75.

08/02/2006, 08:37 PM	#4
masterqaz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oakville Ont. Canada Posts: 551	both are pretty fish though the BC's can be a bit more aggressive and around here are quite a bit more $$. I'd take the RG over the BC simply because they have the yellow. If you like purple you could also try a magneta dottyback, I find them to be a brighter purple than the BC.

08/02/2006, 08:39 PM	#5
masterqaz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oakville Ont. Canada Posts: 551	BTW black caps go for about 60-80 around here whereas royals go for 20-30 depending on the type of royal. (standard vs Brazilian) I'll include picks.

08/02/2006, 08:41 PM	#6
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	ya i was thinking about that I think they are like $60 here and rg like $30, idk i have some thinking to do

08/02/2006, 08:45 PM	#7
masterqaz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oakville Ont. Canada Posts: 551	alright so here they are..... Starting with the brazilian. Basic differences are the more gradual change from purple to yellow, They are also slighty larger more aggresive and dont have the black strike through the eye. And the regular which is pretty much the opposite of the brazil, Strike through eye, not so gradual change in colour etc.

08/02/2006, 10:34 PM	#8
rickh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lost_in_Michigan Posts: 1,306	I love the Black Cap, but they are a shy deep water fish that tend to hide all the time. I decided on the $20 Gramma over the $60 see-it-once-a-day Black Cap. R

08/03/2006, 10:25 AM	#11
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	I like Royal Grammas more. Never owned either fish though..

08/03/2006, 11:41 AM	#13
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	Thanks for the help everyone, I think I am going to go with the rg just because I cant afford a $60 fish right now.

08/03/2006, 11:42 AM	#14
masterqaz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oakville Ont. Canada Posts: 551	which type of Rg you going to go for?

08/03/2006, 11:47 AM	#15
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	I think the regular one, I think it looks better than the brazilan one.

08/03/2006, 11:49 AM	#16
masterqaz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oakville Ont. Canada Posts: 551	i agree with you on that one. For some reason my girlfriend like that brazilian one better and i never understood why.

08/03/2006, 12:07 PM	#17
CivilReef Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: California Posts: 11	Royal Grammas are better because they are out more.

08/03/2006, 06:44 PM	#19
agilis Moved On Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 107	color variation in Gramma loreto "Regular" Royal Grammas are very variable, with substantial local differences in color distribution. Those from the northerly end of their range, Florida and the Bahamas, tend to be similar to the Brazilian's, with the yellow section being larger than the magenta. Grammas from mid to southern Caribbean areas have much more magenta; in some areas, like Jamaica and Haiti, nearly 2/3 magenta. Apparently, going even further south, well below the Equator and consequently back into latitudes that resemble the Florida/Bahamian extreme end of the fish's range, it seems that yellow again predominates. Because these fish are mouth brooders, and tend to live in self-sustaining population colonies, there is probably less random distribution of the young and a greater tendency toward localized gene pools. In many years of observing and collecting Grammas, I've noticed that there is very little variation of color distribution within local populations, but a great deal of difference from island to island.

08/05/2006, 01:07 PM	#21
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	I have a couple of nice fairy wra$$e$ and my wife still thinks the $12 royal gramma is the prettiest fish in the tank. I kinda agree with her as it is one of the best looking grammas I have ever seen if I do say so myself. __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's