Royal gramma

[Tom735]

Hi, I have just added this royal gramma to my tank and he’s just been sat in the corner for the last half an hour
Is this normal behaviour?

 

[W31Olds]

How did you acclimate him? I wouldn't be concerned after only 1/2 hr. as he's probably just stressed. Grammas need multiple places to hide so keep that in mind.

 

[Tom735]

How did you acclimate him? I wouldn't be concerned after only 1/2 hr. as he's probably just stressed. Grammas need multiple places to hide so keep that in mind.

Floated the bag for around 20 mins then just put him in

 

[mook1178]

W

Floated the bag for around 20 mins then just put him in

Ordered online or from a LFS? If online, that is the proper method as opening the back and CO2 offgas can raise the pH and make ammonia more toxic, though ammonia needs too be higher than 10 ppm.

If from a local store, I try to at least get the salinity back up before adding the fish. My store runs low salinity.

 

[Tom735]

W

Ordered online or from a LFS? If online, that is the proper method as opening the back and CO2 offgas can raise the pH and make ammonia more toxic, though ammonia needs too be higher than 10 ppm.

If from a local store, I try to at least get the salinity back up before adding the fish. My store runs low salinity.

Got it from local store about 30 mins drive from me

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Normally it would bolt straight into the rocks to hide. Does it have rocks to hide in?

 

[christinna77]

For any future fish, here's a good guide on how to acclimate them: https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/acclimation-methods.903/

Generally, you want to match the salinity, temperature, and pH of both shipped and locally picked up fish. Some stores keep fish at lower salinity levels, and placing them straight into much higher salinity could cause osmotic shock.

That said, you can't really do anything at this point, and this isn't unusual behavior for a gramma. Make sure there's a good aeration, it's got good places to hide, and I'd also turn off the lights and let it settle in.

 

[SeaWolf95]

Got it from local store about 30 mins drive from me

If thats the case could be dealing with some shock due to the different in SG levels. float and drop is normally for shipped and float and drip is for LFS fish .

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I've always done float and drip whenever I got fish from the LFS. Never had issues doing that

 

[davidm777]

Some stores keep fish at 24ppt salinity. I recommend always checking salinity on what you're bringing in.

 

[christinna77]

If thats the case could be dealing with some shock due to the different in SG levels. float and drop is normally for shipped and float and drip is for LFS fish .

Shipped fish can also arrive in much lower salinity than our tanks. The recommended method here is to use a separate quarantine tank or at least a bucket with premixed water that already matches the shipped water's salinity (can check with the vendor beforehand or take a sample with a syringe without opening the bag).

After temperature acclimation, the fish can be dropped into that water right away and then slowly acclimated up to the tank's salinity from there.

 

[Tom735]

It’s still sitting in the same spot, hasn’t moved an inch. Lights are off

 

[christinna77]

It’s still sitting in the same spot, hasn’t moved an inch. Lights are off

That's not an abnormal behavior for these fish, as long as nothing is bothering it and you don't see anything concerning like fast breathing, it's probably just stress. It should find a better spot later on.

 

[Tom735]

He is absolutely fine today, been swimming around eating fine, he’s found a little spot in the rocks to chill