| Care Level | Easy |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 30 gallons |
| Max Size | 3 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Stock | 2.25" or larger - Caribbean |
|
Email me | |
| Out of Stock | 1" or smaller - Caribbean |
|
Email me | |
| In Stock | 1.25" - 1.5" - Caribbean |
|
-
+
|
|
| In Stock | 1.75" - 2.25" - Caribbean |
|
-
+
|
Every order ships with our standard 3-hour live arrival guarantee. Need more time? Add our 5-Day Guarantee at checkout.
Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
The Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto), also called the fairy basslet, is a Caribbean reef fish with a purple front half that fades into a bright yellow back half, plus a dark stripe through the eye. It naturally stays close to rock faces and overhangs, making it a natural fit for reef aquariums with structured rockwork.
What You’ll Observe:
- Hovering near a preferred cave or ledge, often facing outward as it watches the tank
- Quick, precise dashes to grab food from the water column, then returning to the same perch
- A “head-out” routine where it becomes more visible around the same times each day
- Short, purposeful patrols around its chosen nook, especially during feeding
To help it settle in, provide multiple rock caves and shaded ledges so it can choose a home base. Offer small meaty foods (like mysis and brine) in small portions so it can feed confidently. In most tanks it does best as the only gramma, and with tankmates that give it personal space near the rockwork.
Is it normal for a Royal Gramma to hide a lot at first?
Many establish one “home” crevice and spend most of their time there, then become more visible as they learn your feeding schedule over the next few weeks.
Why does my Royal Gramma hover or swim upside down under a ledge?
This is a common, natural posture for grammas around overhangs and rock faces, and it’s often just how they choose to hold position.
My Royal Gramma is “fighting” its reflection’what does that mean?
Some will flare or lunge at their reflection, especially in bright or highly reflective glass; it often decreases once it’s fully settled and the reflection is reduced.
It grabs food and spits it out’what should I try?
This can happen with larger or harder pieces; many do better with smaller items (finely chopped mysis, calanus, or enriched brine) offered in a few small feedings.
Can adding a new fish make my Royal Gramma disappear more?
A new, bolder swimmer can change how much time it spends out front; steady, consistent feeding (same spot and timing) often helps it resume its normal routine.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.

