Royal Gramma Trouble?

[Shaggymv]

Howdy

just introduced a Royal Gramma to my BioCube 32

acclimated him with float and water adding to his bag…

put him in the tank and he kinda drifts to the bottom, sits there for a bit, does some sideways jerky swimming, sits there some more, and kinda backs him self into a rock.

now I can’t find him anywhere…

What are the chances he’s still alive?
I don’t want to tear my rocks apart looking for him… but as they say… $40 is $40

shaggy

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Give him a few days. They are shy. You might not see him for a week. Then he'll surprise you

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Howdy

just introduced a Royal Gramma to my BioCube 32

acclimated him with float and water adding to his bag…

put him in the tank and he kinda drifts to the bottom, sits there for a bit, does some sideways jerky swimming, sits there some more, and kinda backs him self into a rock.

now I can’t find him anywhere…

What are the chances he’s still alive?
I don’t want to tear my rocks apart looking for him… but as they say… $40 is $40

shaggy

How did you acclimate? What was the salinity level he came in?
Definitely agree with the above post to give it a few days and see if he comes out to eat later

 

[Uncle99]

He’s a rock dweller. No see him, that’s a plus, and normal gramma stuff.
Do nothing, let him get used to the environment.
Hardy fish.
A higher DT salinity than bag can or quick changes can stress them a bit, not to say this was the case.
Pull the rockwork is a bad idea, will accomplish nothing, you could crush him, or her.

 

[Shaggymv]

He’s a rock dweller. No see him, that’s a plus, and normal gramma stuff.
Do nothing, let him get used to the environment.
Hardy fish.
A higher DT salinity than bag can or quick changes can stress them a bit, not to say this was the case.
Pull the rockwork is a bad idea, will accomplish nothing, you could crush him, or her.

Testing my Salinity now, it looks like I am actually a bit low…

I added water every 10 minutes to his bag after Acclimating temp. Dude was not looking super happy in the bag, so I only did it for 30 minutes.

 

[Uncle99]

Testing my Salinity now, it looks like I am actually a bit low…

I added water every 10 minutes to his bag after Acclimating temp. Dude was not looking super happy in the bag, so I only did it for 30 minutes.

You did the right thing.
Lower salinity is good for fish, bad for corals.
If the salinity is low but not causing any problems, I just leave that for a few days, then slow, like .001 per day.

 

[Uncle99]

The chances he’s alive?
80%.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

Yea, don't start moving rock work around, you'll do more bad than good. Low is better than high. Give him time. Raise salinity very slowly.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Sounds like it could have been an acclimation error and could take a few hours to a couple days for him to recover/adjust.

 

[OPL]

My Royal Gramma acted like this when I added him, an hour later he vanished. Spotted him the following day, he had found a gap between a couple of rocks and was poking his head out to observe his surroundings.

It took a couple of days for him to adjust, establish his territory and start eating but now he runs the tank.

 

[Shaggymv]

Thanks everyone!

Betty White is alive and well!
Still pretty shy, but swam out of her rock today.

-Shaggy

 

[Zionas]

Great to know.