All fish / Grammatidae

Royal Gramma

Gramma loreto

Also known as royal gramma basslet, fairy basslet, royal basslet, gramma, yes, ロイヤルグラマ, 紫黄草莓, 皇家丝鲈

A small reef fish whose front half is bright violet and rear half vivid yellow, with a black spot on the dorsal fin and a dark line through the eye. It is hardy, reef safe and full of character, so it suits beginners and mixed reef tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Singly, or a pair in a larger tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, marine pellets and flakes

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Atlantic: Bahamas, Caribbean, Bermuda to northern South America

Breeding

Males build nests of algae in caves, and females lay eggs there for the male to guard. Spawning happens fairly often in home tanks and the fish is captive bred commercially, though raising the tiny larvae needs live plankton and real care.

Good to know

It defends its cave and can quarrel with its own kind or similar cave dwellers such as dottybacks, so give plenty of rockwork. Do not confuse it with the Royal Dottyback (Pictichromis paccagnellae), which looks similar but is more aggressive.