Fish Compatibility 8/4/05
Would a sixline wrasse and a royal Gramma likely be compatible in a 90 gallon tank?  Thanks.
<Hi Jon... Provided your fish load is low, you shouldn't run into any serious situations with these two particular fish. Both do have the potential to be somewhat aggressive, therefore it would be best if you add them as juveniles simultaneously. - Ali>

- Royal Gramma Spots -
Hello,
Thank you so much for answering so many questions for all of us novices out there.  My husband and I have a 26 gallon reef tank that has been in operation for three months.  All of our water parameters seem to be fine. Our Royal Gramma has recently started showing small white spots on its head and tail.  The spots are not raised and do not look like ich that I have seen on other fish.  It does not have these spots in the morning when the lights come on, however, during the course of the day the spots slowly start to appear.  By the end of the day the fish shows signs that the spots bother it by repeatedly scratching on the rocks.  The fish is not showing any other signs of stress and has been eating fine.
We have a cleaner shrimp that the fish goes to at least twice a day.  Its only other tank mates are a Sailfin Blenny, turbo snails, 2 scarlet crabs, 2 blue hermits, 4 margarita snails, 2 Astrea snails, 2 zebra snails, and 5 Nassarius snails.  We also have assorted zoo's and a frogspawn coral.  
Are these spots some other sort of parasite that attaches when the lights are on. <In my opinion it is most likely ich.> Should we try a freshwater dip to alleviate the problem. <I think that would be a good course of action at this point. Don't spend too long trying to catch the fish, though - if you can't catch it in five minutes or so, try again tomorrow.> The blenny does not seem to have the spots, however, it is harder to see because of his coloration. I would appreciate any input you could give me. <See how things go after the dip, see if the cleaner shrimp can keep things in check. Prepare a quarantine tank just in case.> Thank you for your time.
Beth
<Cheers, J -- >

- Royal Gramma Woes -
Good Evening and I hope that you might have some ideas after hearing my sordid tale of woe. I have an 80 gal marine tank with the following parameters: Spg 1.25, NH4=0, NO2=0, N03=0, pH=8.0, CA=410, temp=80, PO4=.1, about 80lbs live rock which is well coralline encrusted, deep sand bed, Remora pro skimmer w/Mag 3 and a wet and dry. Running carbon and PolyFilter. In addition to the pumps running the skimmer and wet and dry I have a Seio 640(I think) in the tank for additional flow. 
Current inhabitants, pyramidellid snail, two emerald crabs, one cleaner shrimp, one ocellaris clown doing very well and one relatively happy fox face, Halimeda growing in tank along with some red algae. I did have a nice royal Gramma. Tank is up about two years and lighting is NO. Recently lost the Gramma, I think to intimidation by the fox face, not that the fox face had ever shown any interest in the Gramma. 
Nevertheless from the time the fox face arrived the Gramma starting spending more time in his lair and avoided feeding when the fox face was around, that his he would stay in the lower part of the water column and pick up the scraps. Tried a variety of techniques in timing of feeding to try to get the fox face out of the picture but none were successful. Although the Gramma was eating something it simply was not enough. Eventually color, especially the purple on the top of the head started to fade and he would come out of his burrow in the rock less and less often. He passed about two weeks ago. 
<Sorry to hear of your loss.> 
Very sad, helpless feeling. Last Sunday went to local LFS and talked with them re this. They thought it strange and felt that perhaps there was a personality issue. 
<Yes, would agree... the Gramma just did not adjust well to having a larger fish in the tank.> 
I decided to try again and bought another Gramma. Fish looked in excellent condition, active, eating, alert etc. Had been in LFS for three weeks and I was previously told that they run copper in their system. Took fish home spent an hour and a half acclimating (Yes I know I should have quarantined), turned off lights, dumped out bag water, placed fish in tank. Three days later found him on the bottom dead as a door nail. Anyone want to venture some thoughts? 
<Coincidence... did you see the fish eat at the store? Sometimes two weeks at the store is ok, and the third week is the beginning of the end. Also, many fish don't exhibit external signs that they are in fact on the way out. I think you just got a bad one.> 
that is aside from the quarantine issue. Oh yeah one other thing, I do weekly 10% water changes. Thanks for your input.
<I'd encourage you to try again - make sure you see the fish eat before you take it home. I know you skirted the quarantine issue, but let me assure you, this is not just for disease prevention but also for the fish to catch a rest away from kids tapping on the glass and people pointing fingers at them. Going directly into a tank with larger, competitive fish can add stress upon stress, and this can cause a turn for the worse. In a quarantine tank, the fish have time to learn your feeding routine and you have the chance to get them acclimated to the foods you want to feed vs. the foods they are used to eating. Cheers, J -- > 

Gramma Compatibility
Can a Royal Gramma and a Black Cap Basslet coexist if added at they same time? Which one do you prefer for a reef tank? I think the Black Cap is absolutely gorgeous. Thanks,
Michelle
>>>Hello!
Yes, then can coexist, but it's more complicated than just a simple YES answer. You just never know with these fish. My advice is try it in at least a 55 gallon aquarium, and as you said, add them simultaneously. Alternatively, if you like the Black Cap that much, just go with one of those. :)
Good luck!
Jim<<<

Injured Gramma and Damsel Aggression (4/17/2005)
Hello all at WWM, 
<HI. Steve Allen with you this evening.>
First I, like everyone else, have to say how great your site it. It is a great resource for everyone, but especially for beginners like me. 
<Glad to here it helps.> 
I have a 55 gal. with a pair of yellow tail damsels, a chocolate chip star, and a Coris wrasse. I bought a Royal Gramma, put him in QT for a month,
<smart> 
then added him to the main tank and rearranged the decor. The damsels instantly attacked him. The tank is covered except at one spot around the heater and filter, so I placed the plastic filter top over the opening. The Gramma got spooked, crashed through it, and landed on the floor about 4 feet away. 
<Sorry to hear.> 
I have put him back in QT and he's not looking good. 
<Give it time. Grammas do tend to be resilient. If you got him back in water quickly, I'd be optimistic.> 
Is there anything I can do to help him pull through? 
<Excellent water conditions, minimize stress, feed properly.> 
If he lives, will the damsels get used to him? 
<Unlikely> 
I know that damsels are aggressive and territorial, but I have also read that the yellow tails were somewhat more laid back. 
<I'd use the term "a little less aggressive" rather "laid back."> 
They have always been pretty laid back, until about two days ago, when they started chasing and nipping at each other. 
<They usually do this eventually.> 
Also, will the Gramma be compatible with the wrasse (He was buried the whole time)? 
<Probably OK> 
I do really like the damsels since they are the first fish I bought. But I will get rid of them if necessary, but I do not want to get rid of the wrasse. I've read through many of the FAQ's and know that I should probably get rid of the damsels, but I am very overprotective of my fish and want to know your advice on my situation. 
<Sounds like you already know what's best. I would not advise you to keep them. You could consider trying to keep only one. There is a possibility this could work. If your catching one, you might as well catch both. If the Gramma makes it, let it settle in for a few weeks before adding back one of the Damsels if you really must have one. But I'd suggest you consider less aggressive species.> 
I thank you for your time as well as both your past and future help. ~Jeff 
<You're welcome. I certainly hope it remains useful.> 

Flashing royal Gramma
Evening to all. I have an 80 gal marine tank with deep sand bed and live rock as well as a wet dry. Current residents are ocellaris clown and royal Gramma (almost a year), Foxface (coupla three months) two emerald crabs, some snails and a skunk cleaner shrimp that recently shed its shell. The Gramma has developed a fear of the Foxface which pays no attention to the Gramma. The Gramma is definitely intimidated at feeding although he does get enough food.
<Likely fine>
Lately the Gramma has been flashing on the rocks. As far as I can tell there are no visible indications of a problem with the Gramma other than the flashing and this is not constant.
<Also probably not problematical... all fishes flash somewhat>
Five gallon water change weekly, salinity temp. ph and other parameters check out fine. I was wondering if you folks might have any thoughts on the Gramma's behavior? Appreciate any insights you may have. Thanks a bunch!!
<I doubt you have an actual problem... given the size of your system, the presence of a cleaner shrimp... I'd just keep your eye on all. Bob Fenner>