Strange Royal Gramma Behavior

[bs77]

Hi everyone,

We bought this royal grama about a week ago and he/she is starting to do strange things. Last night, I saw him laying flat on a rock. I thought it might be dead so I went to pull him out and he shot out of there like a bullet. Just before I turned the lights out, he returned to that same spot. This morning, I went to check him and he was still there. I thought for sure he was dead so I touched him and he didn't move. I went to pull him out and then he took off again, but slowly. Now he is perched at a 90 degree angle to the sand with his head up some rock. Weird. He appears very healthy, no spots, nothing physicaly wrong, he was eating, and is obviously a hardy fish. The only thing I noticed was it seemed he was breathing through his gills a bit slowly, but that could have been my imagination. Ammon/nitrate/trite all at 0. 0.5 phosphates, 8.1 ph, 79 deg temp. Nothing abnormal and all other fish are fine and NOT picking on him, as I would expect them to do with a sick fish. Any ideas? Anyone seen this before? Maybe she is pregnant? I'm a bit worried.

Thanks,

Brandon

[Geoff]

Royal Gramma's are an odd bunch. they seem to do some strange stuff. if it seems to be eating fine than i would not worry to much. they tend to rest in some bizarre positions. seeing them upside down is not unussual either.

G~

[pastina]

i still cant figure out which way is up with mine
that long fin goes on the top or bottom?

yeah its normal behavior

saltwater fish swim oddly. the first time i bought a pair of clowns i thought they had brain damage. took me a few days to figure out they are supposed to swim like bobbing apples

[zxcv123]

Originally Posted by pastina

i still cant figure out which way is up with mine

saltwater fish swim oddly. the first time i bought a pair of clowns i thought they had brain damage. took me a few days to figure out they are supposed to swim like bobbing apples

[jenajet]

My gamma literaly is in my rock. He comes out to eat and is doing well in qt now. Had Brooklynella but has made a full recovery. Still not sure how he gets his body in there but makes it real easy to move him now.

[salt creepette]

basslets and grammas swim upside down under overhangs so yours is probably just....well, as normal as it can be

[Nyles]

Originally Posted by salt creepette

basslets and grammas swim upside down under overhangs so yours is probably just....well, as normal as it can be

agree, these fish are cool because they are so weird, most people think they are sick when they see them due to their swimming nature.

[Hardhead Cat]

Grammas are very peculiar-acting fish. In my LFS they keep all grammas in little clear "hamster" plastic balls that float in the water. They say it keeps them swimming correctly so the customers can see what they are buying!

HHC

[bs77]

Thanks, everyone. That makes me feel a bit better. I just hope he's o.k. when I get home today!

[bs77]

Unfortunately, the royal gramma died last night. I guess his behavior was indicative of something after all.

[jenajet]

Sorry to hear that.

[ChrisPrusha]

Sorry to hear that, as well. All other fish ok? You may want to consider a water change...it is something I always do after a fish passes away.