About Blackcap Basslet
The blackcap basslet is the deeper-water cousin of the royal gramma — purple body with a sharp black cap. Hangs upside-down under overhangs and in caves. Hardy, peaceful, and a great alternative if royal grammas feel overdone.
The blackcap basslet, or blackcap gramma, is a species of fish inhabiting reefs in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean. It prefers vertical surfaces with crevices in which it can hide. It can be found at depths from 10 to 180 metres. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Vivid purple body with a sharp black cap covering the dorsal half of the head. The deeper-water Caribbean cousin of the royal gramma.
In your tank. Peaceful and reef-safe. Holds a small territory under overhangs and in caves — often hanging upside-down on cave ceilings (perfectly natural orientation for them).
Care notes. Hardy and beginner-friendly. One blackcap per tank under 75 gallons. Pairs are difficult; usually housed singly. A great alternative to the royal gramma when you want something less common.
Sourcing and feeding. Wild-collected from Caribbean reefs; widely available ($40–80). Carnivore — frozen mysis, brine, pellets.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related fish
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 280933).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: (c) cello caruso-turiello, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).