Royal Gramma MIA - What to think?

Mombo · Sep 17, 2017

So we got a Royal Gramma about 3 weeks ago....shouldn't have named it. I am sure that is what did this haha. this is in my 29g Biocube.

He has been out and about for 3 weeks eating and doing his thing. This last week he started coming out to greet me before I dropped the food in. My clowns didn't seem to mind him or chase him around at all. They are my only fish in the tank.

Friday he disappeared though. Haven't seen the body, haven't seen an ammonia spike. Checked all the back chambers and the floor around my tank. Cant find him.

I added a drop of garlic to my reef frenzy today to try and entice him out but no luck.

Is it normal for a Royal Gramma to go MIA like this or is he likely dead? Are they known to hide for multiple days? I dont have hermits but I do have Nassarious snails that might have ate him. But he was eating and seemed to be acting normal. Clowns are still doing there usual. Big ol pigs.

Oldsalt01 · Sep 17, 2017

Do u have the stock cover on the tank? It's not unheard of, but Biocube's are pretty escape proof, except over the front chamber wall. The snails probably wouldn't predate him but would clean him up if he checked out. As gramma's are generally cave dwellers I'd do a thorough search of the rock.

AlexG · Sep 17, 2017

I would check all of the chambers in the bio cube with the pump off. Royal Grammas do like to hide in caves that can be pretty small but I have not experienced them hiding for days. I would also check the floor as fish always seem to find the once tiny space to fit through.

tdileo · Sep 17, 2017

I have heard that sometimes fish like firefish will suddenly disappear into a rock for no reason and it come out for weeks. Maybe its the same for him.

Oldsalt01 · Sep 17, 2017

Not to sound maudlin, but do you have a cat? I DO agree with Alex G, check the back chambers, esp #3, preferably with the pump pulled out and you may find him. I'm not inclined to think he's found a crevice to hide in, esp as he was coming out to greet you before.

Mombo · Sep 18, 2017

Thanks y'all I will pull out the pump and check it out a bit closer.

Mombo · Sep 18, 2017

No go on the sump area. Prob dead....sadly....maybe he will show back up from a long vacation in the rocks.

AlexG · Sep 18, 2017

Mombo said:
No go on the sump area. Prob dead....sadly....maybe he will show back up from a long vacation in the rocks.

Sorry to hear you did not find him. I would say there is a high probability that he died and was consumed or is stuck in the rocks. Either way if the tank is still healthy and the water parameters are stable I would not tear it apart to try and find that fish.

atoll · Sep 19, 2017

I find RGs do much better in pairs or groups after all they are found in aggregations on the reef they are social animals.They are much more comfortable with those of their own kind and bolder. Yours might simply be hiding away so all is not lost, give it a bit more time.
Here is my current 4 I have in my 100 gallon.

spiraling · Sep 19, 2017

atoll said:
I find RGs do much better in pairs or groups after all they are found in aggregations on the reef they are social animals.They are much more comfortable with those of their own kind and bolder. Yours might simply be hiding away so all is not lost, give it a bit more time.
Here is my current 4 I have in my 100 gallon.

Interesting. LA specifically says to keep them singly "Since it demonstrates territorial aggression towards its own kind, the Royal Gramma Basslet should be housed singly."
How long have yours been together? I love the group of them.

atoll · Sep 19, 2017

spiraling said:
Interesting. LA specifically says to keep them singly "Since it demonstrates territorial aggression towards its own kind, the Royal Gramma Basslet should be housed singly."
How long have yours been together? I love the group of them.

I am sorry but LA speaks with forked tongue, well IME anyway that is far from true. I have kept a number of RGs in pairs over the years and it's easy to get a pair formed. With my current tank, I introduced 2 juvenile RGs about 12 months ago, I added another 2juveniles about 7 months ago without a single issue with them all. Here is a vid taken at the end of February this year not long after I introduced the second pair.

Mombo · Sep 19, 2017

I like em in a pack!

atoll · Sep 19, 2017

Still think you can't keep more than one?

Seriously, I do wonder about some of the poor advice you get on the net at times.;Bookworm
RG's are to my mind brilliant little fish and one of my favorites. I have kept 2 pairs and now a group of 4 in my 36 years reefing.
RG's are small, colorful. peaceful, long-lived, unassuming, eat most foods, relatively hardy, quite cheap, easy going, can be kept singular, in pairs or groups and will spawn in the aquarium. as mine often have.

Newb73 · Sep 19, 2017

atoll said:
Still think you can't keep more than one? [emoji14]
Seriously, I do wonder about some of the poor advice you get on the net at times.;Bookworm
RG's are to my mind brilliant little fish and one of my favorites. I have kept 2 pairs and now a group of 4 in my 36 years reefing.
RG's are small, colorful. peaceful, long-lived, unassuming, eat most foods, relatively hardy, quite cheap, easy going, can be kept singular, in pairs or groups and will spawn in the aquarium. as mine often have.

But I once had one that used shrimp as chew toys.....crazy buggers.

mps026 · Sep 19, 2017

I see mine once every month dont lose hope. She hides in a cave the vast majority of the time. Thinking about getting another after reading the other posts.

AlexG · Sep 19, 2017

I agree that royal grammas do work well together in groups. I plan to add a large group to one of my tanks as they are such a peaceful and colorful fish.