royal grama

[rob s.]

so I just got a royal grama. Beautiful fish but i'm a bit worried. I got him home from the LFS and slowly acclimated him to my tank water. at the store he was not very active and I asked what was going on with him. I trust my store completely and she told me it was a customers fish that was doing a new tank and said to sell his fish. There were quite a few from the tank and all of them looked very healthy and vibrant colors. Well for the past hour or so the grama is just kinda either laying on its side, head higher than the tail or vertical in the water not moving at all. I just check and thought it had died but a gentle prod and he swam just fine. is this behavior something any one else has experienced? should I be worried or will this pass as time goes by and he settles in?

 

[jtf74]

so I just got a royal grama. Beautiful fish but i'm a bit worried. I got him home from the LFS and slowly acclimated him to my tank water. at the store he was not very active and I asked what was going on with him. I trust my store completely and she told me it was a customers fish that was doing a new tank and said to sell his fish. There were quite a few from the tank and all of them looked very healthy and vibrant colors. Well for the past hour or so the grama is just kinda either laying on its side, head higher than the tail or vertical in the water not moving at all. I just check and thought it had died but a gentle prod and he swam just fine. is this behavior something any one else has experienced? should I be worried or will this pass as time goes by and he settles in?

My grammas often hangs out or sort of floats in place sideways or almost vertical with head up tail down. Totally normal for this fish. You said "laying" down as though on the bottom which is not normal.

 

[rob s.]

ok its up and swimming ate some pellets so I think its ok....thanks

 

[Michael Rossi]

I just got a royal gramma yesterday as well. First time I saw it was a little while ago while feeding. They seem to be shy at first

 

[Biglew11]

I just got one a week ago sunday. Was swimming fine in the store, did a slow 45 minute drip acclimation. Mine also kind of just hung out on the bottom sometimes laying on its side until another fish swam to close. It's now a very active bold fish that eats ravenously. So I've seen this before but still keep an eye on it.

 

[HockeyRooster]

I got a used rehomed gramma and I thought he was a goner for the first 4 or 5 days. Eventually he was all good. Beautiful fish. Good luck with yours.

 

[sixline]

Mine swims upside down, hangs out vertically, and disappears for weeks at a time.

 

[Biglew11]

Mine swims upside down, hangs out vertically, and disappears for weeks at a time.

When I had fresh water I had a catfish that would swim upside down to eat the food at the waters surface instead of wating for it to sink.

 

[vetteguy53081]

very bashful and timid fish at first

 

[Zionas]

Grammas, Reef Basslets, and Assessors can behave like this. Swimming upside down is part of their normal behavior. If he’s eating well, he’ll be fine I think. Good luck.

 

[Flame2hawk]

All normal behavior. Enjoy..

 

[rob s.]

thanks for all the replies...He has eaten well and explored the tank last night so i think he will be fine

 

[shootingstar_reef]

this has been a very reassuring thread, I just got a royal gramma myself haha

 

[Zionas]

Nice! Gratz OP.