Royal Gramma Basslet
Size: 3”
Family: Grammidae
Care Level: Easy
Lifespan: 5-6 years
Temperament: Peaceful
Range: Caribbean Sea and Western Atlantic Ocean
Minimum aquarium size: 20 gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Reef Compatible: Yes
Color: Purple and Yellow
Water Conditions: Normal sea water
Special Requirements: None
Captive Bred Available: Yes
Where To Buy: Fragbox Corals
Overview
With its peaceful nature and vibrant colors, the Royal Gramma Basslet has been a staple in reef tanks for years. It is a truly stunning fish that is considered easy to keep and will add a splash of color to any tank.
Care level
Royal Grammas are naturally carnivores, but they will also eat a wide variety of frozen and prepared foods. Many hobbyists will supplement flake or pellet foods with occasional feedings of either frozen or fresh mysis shrimp.
Size & Sex
This is one of the smaller basslets and will grow to approximately 3” in size. Like many fish, Royal Grammas are all born female, with the largest and most dominant fish in a group becoming male. Male Royal Grammas are slightly larger with bigger ventral fins.
Family
The Grammidae family consists of small, ray finned fish that are all native to the Western Atlantic Ocean.
Diet
The Royal Gramma is planktivore, meaning that it eats largely zooplankton and crustaceans. In a home aquarium they are not picky eaters and will eat a wide variety of prepared as well as fresh and frozen food. They do not have any special feeding requirements.
Reef Compatible
Royal Gramma Basslets are 100% reef safe and will not bother any corals or invertebrates.
Aggression
While the Royal Gramma will sometimes protect its territory by opening its mouth wide to scare off intruders, it is considered to be a peaceful fish and will not bully or harass any tankmates.
Water conditions
The Royal Gramma Basslet does not require special water conditions to survive and thrive. Normal salinity of 1.025 is ideal.
Color
Royal Gramma Basslets are instantly recognizable due their distinctive purple and yellow coloration. They can be distinguished from the more aggressive Royal Dottyback by the fact that there is a transition area between the purple and yellow sections of its body.
Breeding
Due to their popularity, captive bred Royal Gramma Basslets have become available in recent years. Because all Royal Grammas are born female it can be difficult for a hobbyist to breed them but a number of successful professional breeding programs have been set up to meet the demand for captive bred specimens.