Why is my Gramma acting like this

Sick_man · Oct 4, 2020

Hi, so I have a royal gramma and a firefish. The gramma always opens its mouth at him (only him not to other fish) but never bites. Sometimes the firefish's tail is in the grammas mouth but it never bites down. Also the firefish lets no other fish touch it or get near besides the gramma. Is this behavior normal? Its been going on for a few weeks and I dont want to the gramma to grow aggressive towards my firefish

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Vette67 · Oct 4, 2020

That is a show of aggression. My gramma does that whenever my 6 line wrasse gets too close. It is meant to make the gramma look bigger and more intimidating. From my experience, it is strictly a show, and has never led to an actual bite or even a chase. Apparently, your gramma does not like your fire fish, just as my gramma doesn’t like my wrasse. But in my case, I only notice it a couple times a day, and once the wrasse moves on, the posturing stops. Oh, and my 6 line wrasse could not even care less that the gramma is posturing. He keeps moving as though nothing even happened.

pbrown · Oct 4, 2020

I have had this similar response with my gramma and my snowflake clown. Then my gramma started bothering my new Midas blennie and the clown intervened and defended the blennie. So my 6 year old named him copper. Since he keeps the peace and is copper orange. This wasn't a solo instance. The snowflake clown intervened constantly until the blennie was able to hold his own. My gramma also makes this face when I sit on the chair next to the tank. He will see me and come to the glass and open his jaw....
If I were to do it again, I would add the gramma last in the tank so it would be less territorial.

lba4590 · Oct 4, 2020

Yes very normal behavior. My gramma does this to any of my fish that get too close. Scared me at first but it’s all show, your firefish is probably just smart enough to be unfazed by it. Never seen my gramma chase or do anything else, but I have heard of it happening. He’s probably just showing him who’s boss, but definitely keep an eye out.

Sick_man · Oct 5, 2020

Thanks everyone. He was added in last and hes been doing this ever since. Fortunately there has never been a bite.

Sebastiancrab · Oct 5, 2020

My gramma has done it to defend his territory with my yellow tail damsel. The bigger mouth at this point wins!

346700984 · Jan 19, 2021

Sick_man said:
Hi, so I have a royal gramma and a firefish. The gramma always opens its mouth at him (only him not to other fish) but never bites. Sometimes the firefish's tail is in the grammas mouth but it never bites down. Also the firefish lets no other fish touch it or get near besides the gramma. Is this behavior normal? Its been going on for a few weeks and I dont want to the gramma to grow aggressive towards my firefish

Our royal gramma does what I call the “Gyarados mouth” towards one of our two fire fish if it gets in it’s space. When it retreats to its cave it snuggles into the rock upside down. It’s bazaar and funny. It’s become my favorite fish in the tank thus far.