Very Aggressive Royal Gramma-options?

[Codfish Comb]

Currently have a 22 Gallon nano
I have 2 clowns that have been in there and there is a hammer coral (front of rock work) that host them. During the day they really don’t venture away from it other than to eat.
Last week I added a Royal gramma and it took to the back side of the rock work.
The last few days the Royal gramma has gotten really aggressive opening its jaw and lunging at them constantly and have caught it actually attacking them as well-the clowns never leave their coral with gramma coming up to them. I haven’t seen the clowns go to the back side of the rock work, even before the RG was added. Will this aggression get better with time, will adding some addition rock help? I tried catching it to put in a box in the tank for a bit but it will require disturbing all the corals and rock.

 

[baldyreef]

Does the gramma have a space like a crevice or cave to itself?

 

[Codfish Comb]

Yes it definitely does-it sleeps in a big space under a rock at night and hides in holes sometimes to where I can’t even find it if I’m looking

 

[baldyreef]

Grammas can be pretty aggressive just in a normal mood bar can be increased when they don’t have enough territory most likely a little to cramped for the gramma they really hate other fish in their territory which seems yours may have deemed the whole tank its territory it may cool down over time though

 

[B&CinB.C.]

We have an RG that became quite aggressive when it went in the display from the QT , opening its mouth and lunging at the other fish . Never biting or harming them but chasing them alot . We were quite surprised how large the mouth is when doing this . I rearranged the rocks and the aggression got a lot less . Still chases other fish sometimes but doesn't open it's mouth now . This is in a 32.5 gallon tank

 

[edsbeaker]

Currently have a 22 Gallon nano
I have 2 clowns that have been in there and there is a hammer coral (front of rock work) that host them. During the day they really don’t venture away from it other than to eat.
Last week I added a Royal gramma and it took to the back side of the rock work.
The last few days the Royal gramma has gotten really aggressive opening its jaw and lunging at them constantly and have caught it actually attacking them as well-the clowns never leave their coral with gramma coming up to them. I haven’t seen the clowns go to the back side of the rock work, even before the RG was added. Will this aggression get better with time, will adding some addition rock help? I tried catching it to put in a box in the tank for a bit but it will require disturbing all the corals and rock.

Any chance that you could relocate the hammer to the other side of the tank?

 

[Codfish Comb]

I think I could break the hammer off that rock and I might try. I think I will add a few pieces of rock 1st and see where that gets me as it is the lesser of 2 options

 

[Malum Argenteum]

I'd pull it out. That's just not enough space for that fish (reference for my claim is the behavior of mine in a 90g).

 

[KrisReef]

The first law of the jungle states:

Actually I went to a lot of university courses and they taught that the Jungle doesn’t exist, but they did teach hard sciences where we learned that 2 objects cannot occupy the same space, and it seems that your Gramma is a stubborn little fish that objects to all others?

So, based upon my lack of knowledge gained from studying these things I agree with an earlier poster that suggested that you should remove it asap. The tank is too small (according to the fish, not me) and the war is likely to continue until a victory has occurred.

Your clear path to victory is getting these fish more tank space. How you accomplish this is up to you.