Clownfish and Royal Gamma

[JackDemetriou]

Looking to start a Reef Tank, and was looking at Royal Gamma and Clownfish. Can these 2 be together in a reef? Should you put the Royal Gamma or the Clownfish in first? Can you only have 1 Royal Gamma or can you have a pair? Are Royal Gamma easy beginner fish?

 

[Tahoe61]

Royal Gramma are great fish once acclimated. You can not house more than 1 unless you have a pair or very large aquarium.

Tank size?


I would introduce the RG first.

 

[WisconsinReefing]

I have a pair of clowns which were in first, and then added a royal gramma. They do just fine together, Gramma spends a good majority of the day hiding in her rock hole, but never had any issues.

 

[WisconsinReefing]

I have a pair of clowns which were in first, and then added a royal gramma. They do just fine together, Gramma spends a good majority of the day hiding in her rock hole, but never had any issues.

Side note. My royal gramma freaked me out because when I put her in I didn’t see her for a week. So don’t worry. She’ll come out when she’s hungry.

 

[jeffchapok]

My gramma and my clowns get along just fine. The clowns were introduced first, followed by the gramma. She's hassled some of the newer fish for a day or so, but then settles down and leaves them alone.

 

[huckjai]

My Royal Gramma is also fine with my clowns. Clowns were in first. But my Royal Gramma barks at some older fish from time to time, and bullies all new fish going in after. It is quite terratorrial. If I could do it all over again, I'd put in my Royal Gramma towards the last of my stocking order.

 

[Radman73]

My ocellaris clowns were nearly 9 years old when I introduced the RG. Have never been any issues. This is in a 220.

 

[boacvh]

I have no issues with them on my 75. How big is your tank going to be?

 

[Uncle99]

RG gets along with most and is an excellent member of the community.
First, last, does not matter.
He may drop his jaw on others, this is normal

 

[DanH86]

My Royal Gramma is also fine with my clowns. Clowns were in first. But my Royal Gramma barks at some older fish from time to time, and bullies all new fish going in after. It is quite terratorrial. If I could do it all over again, I'd put in my Royal Gramma towards the last of my stocking order.

I second this. My royal gramma is a bully to anything that has been added after it. It spends time actively hunting out any new fish for their first few days in the tank, giving them a hard time, then it will ignore them once they’ve been there a while.

 

[huckjai]

RG gets along with most and is an excellent member of the community.
First, last, does not matter.
He may drop his jaw on others, this is normal

Mine doesn't just drop his Jaws. He actually rams into the new fish with his dropped jaw and chases after them. Looks like he's biting them. I wish I could say mine is a model citizen. Most of the fish avoid him now.

 

[JackDemetriou]

I have no issues with them on my 75. How big is your tank going to be?

My tank is around 40 gallons

 

[JackDemetriou]

Royal Gramma are great fish once acclimated. You can not house more than 1 unless you have a pair or very large aquarium.

Tank size?


I would introduce the RG first.

My tank is around 40 gallons. Is this an okay size for a royal gamma and a pair of clownfish?

Many have introduced the clownfish first, with no problems. Why would you introduce the royal Gamma first?

 

[JackDemetriou]

What would you feed your Royal Gamma?

 

[JackDemetriou]

I second this. My royal gramma is a bully to anything that has been added after it. It spends time actively hunting out any new fish for their first few days in the tank, giving them a hard time, then it will ignore them once they’ve been there a while.

Have you had any fish that have died from stress from the royal gamma or any damaged fins?

 

[DanH86]

Have you had any fish that have died from stress from the royal gamma or any damaged fins?

Yes, the gramma damaged the fin of my firefish, but it grew back within a few days. No deaths thankfully.

 

[Terri Caton]

I had 2 juvenile Ocellaris Clownfish then added a juvenile Royal Gramma. The clownfish actually helped the gramma not be so shy. The gramma would pal around with them all day.

 

[hllb]

Started my tank (32g) with a single clown. Next fish in was a royal gramma. They are buddies. Every fish I’ve added since has been bullied by the RG but he settles down in a couple of days. No actual injuries despite actually biting my Midas blenny.

I feed frozen and pellets and he eats everything. He’s a giant pig. He’s an active swimmer though it took a few weeks for him to leave his little cave area.

 

[CuzzA]

My tank is around 40 gallons. Is this an okay size for a royal gamma and a pair of clownfish?

Many have introduced the clownfish first, with no problems. Why would you introduce the royal Gamma first?

Clowns first. Keep in mind, you have chose two species which will become territorial, the clowns when paired. This is going to limit what you can add long term. The clowns will be fine for a while until they become adult breeders, then they'll own a quarter or third of a 40 gallon tank and the gamma will own another quarter. Just something to consider if you intend on having more fish. All generally speaking of course.

For a 40 breeder I would probably pass on the gamma so I could add a number of nano fish and have a more diverse interesting display.

 

[JackDemetriou]

Yes, the gramma damaged the fin of my firefish, but it grew back within a few days. No deaths thankfully.

I think as this is my first time in the marine/reef world, I might stay away from this fish as a beginner