Royal gramma behavior

[Sonatine]

I've noticed an interesting behavior with my new royal gramma. Sometimes, he pecks at the glass. He just faces it, swims up carefully, pecks once, and backs away (no video because he's still camera shy). No displaying is associated with it. At first, I thought he was attacking his reflection. But now, I think he might actually be snacking on pods, since I do have some on the glass. I think I read somewhere that royal grammas would eat pods.

Any thoughts? Is my fish being territorial towards his reflection, or is he just the first one in my tank to discover that the glass is covered with tiny snacks? I'm not worried about the behavior or anything. He's doing very well, especially since I've only had him for a few days. I just found it interesting and like learning about my fish.

 

[KQuillan]

I just got a new one too. Mine comes out from the rock and then darts back in.

 

[kingoftheHiLLpeople]

Could be eating pods - but in my experience it is more likely a territorial display towards its reflection

 

[dstockwell]

When I got mine it would stay close to rock home and hardly ever come out. Now it ventures all over the tank.

 

[mckinney0171]

They usually see their reflection and either get spooked or aggro.

 

[Sonatine]

How do they act when behaving aggressively? Mine doesn't do the mouth-thing, or really show off much towards the glass. Just approach, peck, then back off. Then he searches for a minute or two and does it again, before swimming off elsewhere in the tank.

I think I got lucky with his personality, either way. He doesn't spend all that much time in hiding, even if he does have a favorite cave. He's usually out and about, drifting, pecking the glass, and hanging out with Judith, the damselfish.

 

[mckinney0171]

Mine flares his mouth and tries to look tough by darting out of his hole.

 

[Sonatine]

Confirmed: he's hunting. Saw him do his pecking routine on the glass right in front of me, and he gulped down a couple of pods. I guess it's about time someone appreciated the live food options available in the tank. Maybe I should seed the tank with more pods, so he can have more snacking options.