Royal Babies

[Mimmrfr]

While putting together a stocking list for what I am now coining my "Retirement Tank" (as it could be my last tank build before retirement so it better be great!!!), I had decided that after many years since my last royal gramma that I would put in at least 2. My LFS just happened to have 2 little 1 inch babies, so I brought them home. I had forgotten how delightful they can be, so I decided to share. First, the greatest lesson I've learned in 17+ years of reef keeping is that one must become a voracious reader on the subject we love so well. Second read more! Lastly make decisions based on accumulated research and long-timer's vast knowledge and experience, and never believe the gossip and myths (which is unfortunately the bulk of info floating around out there) about any fish or coral of one's interest. (This hobby has gained enormous knowledge through hobbyists bucking the system).

Th royal gramma is IMHO a very nice and certainly colorful little community fish. It is an hermaphrodite that typically enjoys its site based territory. My 2 royals have taken it upon themselves to sit as sentries on either side of an island. Throughout the day they check on each other just to make sure everyone is doing their job. At night they swim together to another island 3 feet away from the "job" site where each has a respective bolt hole near each other for sleeping. They are the first to rise and the last to go to bed. I only have cellphone pics and hope they transfer well.

 

[Tahoe61]

Wonderful fish and thank you for sharing.

I have always wanted multiples, however I have heard they can be aggressive towards one another.

 

[Mimmrfr]

Wonderful fish and thank you for sharing.

I have always wanted multiples, however I have heard they can be aggressive towards one another.

I have spent days on the internet trying to find an article I found a year or so ago. There was mention of someone have 13 in one tank (let's assume a tank of at least medium large to large). I believe it was a species only tank and they swam all over the tank throughout the day, but at night they all congregated and slept in the same area. I am continuing my hunt for the article. I'm thinking it may have been an older online Reefsmagazine. I'll keep looking.

I would also think the aggression would tank place when 2 or more "older" royals are placed together. Just an educated guess.

 

[Tahoe61]

I have seen a hobbyist attempt it by placing all the Royal Grammas in the tank at once at a young age. His issue was acquiring all juveniles and a significant number. Per his research Royals tend to be highly susceptible to bacterial infections from the stress of shipping.
There was an exhibit with several adults at a public aquarium it may have been Monterey, the adults were much larger than you see in the average hobbyist tank.
One of the most under rated fish in the hobby in my opinion. The reason for that I believe because they can be so shy initially and because from what I read a lot of people have a hard time acclimating them.

 

[saltyhog]

My first two fish were a tiny Royal Gramma and a red firefish. They ended up spending almost 12 weeks in QT because my DT was delayed in arriving. I still don't know how a complete newb like me didn't lose them but the Gramma has almost tripled in size and still is only about 2 3/4" in size. He is almost always out front and postures with his mouth open when ever other fish get close to his hidey hole. I guess since he was first in it helped?

I have several other fish that might be more interesting to hobbyist but the first fish everyone comments on when they see my tank is Mike the Royal Gramma (named after the LSU mascot in honor of a friend who graduated from there)

 

[reefaddictionrx]

I've read about people doing "species" tanks with only grammas similar to what Tahoe is talking about. I would love to see a reef wall with a bunch of colorful royal grammas guarding it...