About Royal Gramma
Stunning purple-to-yellow gradient. Hardy, peaceful, and one of the most beautiful fish you can keep at this care level.
Royal Grammas claim a small territory — usually a cave or overhang — and rarely stray far. They are excellent for nano and mid-sized reefs alike. Pairs are difficult unless introduced very young; otherwise keep singly.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Striking purple-to-yellow gradient — the front half deep magenta, the back half bright yellow, with a thin black eye stripe. Adult size ~3 inches.
In your tank. Holds a small territory in caves and overhangs and rarely strays far. Excellent for nano and mid-sized reefs alike. Peaceful and reef-safe.
Care notes. Pairs are difficult unless introduced very young. One royal gramma per tank under 75 gallons. Will defend its cave aggressively against same-species intruders, otherwise peaceful with tankmates.
Sourcing and feeding. Wild-collected from Caribbean reefs; widely available and inexpensive ($30–60). Captive-bred available occasionally. Carnivore — mysis, brine, frozen prepared foods.
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 280932).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: (c) Pauline Walsh Jacobson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).