My Royal Gramma is being mean

BrownCow · Dec 3, 2019

My first 2 fish in the tank were a midas blenny and a royal gramma and it was fine until I added the third fish. I really wanted to add a Kamohara Blenny so I did and i was so worried that him and the midas wouldn't get along i didn't even think about the rg and of course the 2 blennies get along fine and the rg is the one being aggressive. So my question is will he stop being aggressive once he gets used to the fish?

Sailfin11 · Dec 3, 2019

Welcome to R2R! Some fish will just be mean, especially to others of similar body type. My orchid dottyback killed a Court Jester goby a few days after I added him. I would wait a week or so and then reassess. When feeding, keep a watchful eye on all of the fish and make sure that they are all eating.

DanH86 · Dec 3, 2019

Grammas seem to hate new fish. My gramma is being aggressive towards my Firefish that was added Saturday. He’s had part of his fin nipped off. It’s subsided from nipping to snarling since then so hopefully it’ll go completely over time.

Uncle99 · Dec 3, 2019

What do you mean by aggressive.....taking shots and the others....or simply opening his mouth super wide.
If the latter, absolutely gramma behavior, it’s how he tells others, this is my territory.

I have not ever witnessed a gramma, hit, bite or continuously chase anyone.

mta_morrow · Dec 3, 2019

Uncle99 said:
What do you mean by aggressive.....taking shots and the others....or simply opening his mouth super wide.
If the latter, absolutely gramma behavior, it’s how he tells others, this is my territory.

I have not ever witnessed a gramma, hit, bite or continuously chase anyone.

Agree 100%^^^^^^^

BrownCow · Dec 3, 2019

Uncle99 said:
What do you mean by aggressive.....taking shots and the others....or simply opening his mouth super wide.
If the latter, absolutely gramma behavior, it’s how he tells others, this is my territory.

I have not ever witnessed a gramma, hit, bite or continuously chase anyone.

It seems like my gramma is constantly keeping an eye on the new fish and is guarding ALL the rocks and he did actually bite the new fish once too.

BrownCow · Dec 3, 2019

DanH86 said:
Grammas seem to hate new fish. My gramma is being aggressive towards my Firefish that was added Saturday. He’s had part of his fin nipped off. It’s subsided from nipping to snarling since then so hopefully it’ll go completely over time.

It sucks man. I'm thinking about removing mine if he keeps it up

William Morris · Dec 3, 2019

I went thru the odyssey of having a mean gramma for almost a year. Constantly picked on every fish in the tank. Finally I just had enough and took most of the corals out and dismantled the rock to capture it. Best thing I ever did.

BrownCow · Dec 3, 2019

William Morris said:
I went thru the odyssey of having a mean gramma for almost a year. Constantly picked on every fish in the tank. Finally I just had enough and took most of the corals out and dismantled the rock to capture it. Best thing I ever did.

dang, it suck to have to do that but I'm not having it. I'm giving mine 1 more day and if he doesn't chill out he's gone.

William Morris · Dec 3, 2019

Actually it wasn't bad and the rebuild was painless and actually looked better. Good luck trying to catch it. Tried everything and then just went full throttle and tore it down.

Uncle99 · Dec 5, 2019

The gramma is an excellent fish generally.....relax....give him some time to show others where he lives.
I kept these for more than 25 years, it should settle out.....

Mine did this as well.....on and off for a month or so....

Are you sure that’s a gramma?
I have seen many mislabeled dotty backs.....and then the behavior Becomes normal....

Mikedawg · Dec 5, 2019

Uncle99 said:
What do you mean by aggressive.....taking shots and the others....or simply opening his mouth super wide.
If the latter, absolutely gramma behavior, it’s how he tells others, this is my territory.

I have not ever witnessed a gramma, hit, bite or continuously chase anyone.

RG's often "pose" by taking an aggressive mouth fully open stance in the presence of new fish. I've never seen any sort of attack, nipping, etc. They are "all hat and no cows" in my book.