Royal Gramma Drama or Worse?

[alyee5]

You sure she's not blind? I had a gramma go blind on me one time, but it was because she was (unknowingly) out of water for 30 mins inside a rock.

Hmmm....not totally sure, I just tried to see if she had a response to my iPhone light switching on/off--no response. I gently tapped the glass and see reacted. So, maybe? I'll try again but right now just letting her chill...

 

[alyee5]

Looks like stress-related behavior. My female RG did this when she was being picked on by my Kole Tang. She was a hot mess for several weeks, hiding and acting weird. Occasionally she would sleep out in the open pressed against the glass like what is shown in the video. She eventually recovered, although she almost never swims out in the open, preferring to hang out under one of my hammer corals. I will say that introducing a male RG really improved her behavior and visibility.

I think patience is the key here. Provide a stress-free environment and get her eating normally. Once she recovers, I would reintroduce via an acclimation box to ensure there is no aggression.

Thanks for sharing...I'll take your advice and give her time...

 

[alyee5]

I would lay the pvc sideways so it makes a tunnel and not a trap. So she has more than one way in and out. Have no idea and have never seen that before. Just keep observing... Maybe the experts will see something. Hope she makes it.

Thanks for the support...PVC is now sideways!

 

[alyee5]

Ok after 9 days in a hospital (actually more like isolation ) tank, my Royal Gramma seems to be "healthy". She eats ok as the video shows but is still a major nervous train wreck. One of the food pellets floated down behind her and she freaked out cramming herself into a "fetal" position in the rock work. Dunno how she will ever make it back into the main display tank.

 

[melypr1985]

It will probably get better after a few days of hiding and finding it's own territory. I've had many fish be very timid during QT and once in the display they completely changed into confident and happy fish. It's worth it to me to make sure they are healthy before going in, but I do often see the "scaredy fish" act in QT.

 

[goatcorals]

Might just have been stress. Had a Midas Blenny keep going to the top and looked like it was going for air when it was being bullied by a starry Blenny. Moved it and it recovered like your gramma.

Also once had flukes in a tank and a couple of fish went to the surface for air (flukes in their gills). FW dip then prazi.

If it is stress, not sure if it will get better upon her return as you surmise.

 

[alyee5]

If it is stress, not sure if it will get better upon her return as you surmise.

Yes, I am doubtful...I may try an acclimation box to see how she reacts to her old tankmates, but not sure if I should just set up my coral QT and make her a permanent inhabitant...or maybe my sump...

 

[alyee5]

Well...3 weeks into solitary and my Royal Gramma's behavior is better, but not quite "normal". She swims ok (not vertical or on her side), but seems to want to stay at the bottom of the tank under some rocks. She will eat pellets fine and responds to light (ie not blind). So, I am now trying to acclimate her back into the main tank...the other 5 inhabitants have been displaying decent behavior
2 Clarkii Clowns rule the roost
1 Foxface (added 4 weeks ago) eats well...has some run ins with the Clarkii during feeding (ie Clarkii sometimes nip at the Foxface during feeding time- Foxface responds by displaying spines)
2 Firefish (added 4 weeks ago) come out during the day and seem to have adjusted to the Clarkii's reckless abandon during feeding

Here is the Royal Gramma in her acclimation box--I will keep lights off on the DT tomorrow and see how she is after 24 hours...

Let's hope for the best!

 

[Humblefish]

When you release her into the DT, do it as far away from the clownfish as possible and make sure she has a "hidey hole" to dart into nearby.

 

[goatcorals]

Hoping for the best.

 

[alyee5]

Well the Royal Gramma couldn't seem to adjust back into the DT....She wouldn't go into any of the rock work and would just lay at the bottom or at the top of the DT seemingly petrified. She even found her way into my feeder and just laid there...

 

[Humblefish]

You might need to setup a little nano just for her.

 

[alyee5]

Ok so last nite, I put her in the sump...where I suppose she will live out her life...seems less stressed...swimming normally, eating ok...hope's she happy...

 

[Humblefish]

The way you have your sump setup, it seems to be a good option.

 

[goatcorals]

Looks happier than when she was in the DT for sure. Her own little basement apartment. Maybe you need a bigger tank down the road!

 

[alyee5]

The things we do for our pets! My daughter's hamster got in a little tiff with another hamster yesterday--one vet treated bite on its butt = $187....sigh...

 

[goatcorals]

Hamsters and guinea pigs are the gut wrenchers... my daughter is on her second guinea pig, and yeah, lifetime vet bills vs. the cost of a guinea pig... not the best ratio... though admittedly my dog is in there quite a bit too!