Will black caps and royal grammas get along?

[dizzy]

I would like to put a trio of black cap basslets and a pair of royal grammas in my 300-cylinder tank. Has anyone had any success keeping these species together? I believe the tank is large enough that it might work, but would like to hear from others who have tried this mix. I have a pair of royal grammas and a pair a swiss guards in my home 75-gallon and they get along great.
Thanks

 

[leftovers]

two words:

Bad Idea.


While you have a large tank and it might work it would be most likely a WWF deathmatch.....

 

[dizzy]

two words:

Bad Idea.


While you have a large tank and it might work it would be most likely a WWF deathmatch.....

leftover,
I didn't know the World Wildlife Federation hosted death matches. :lol:
Actually I'm finding that when fish are kept in pairs or harems they seem less interested in harassing tankmates. Beside the pair of royal grammas and swiss guards in the 75, I have a trio of flame angels in the 300 that could care less about the C. argi or the C. aurantonotus they share the tank with. I also have a pair of P. aldabrensis in one tank that leave the other fish be, and the same with a pair of flame hawks in another tank. I also have 4 Scott's damsels in the 300 and they only mess with each other. Same thing with a pair of the lovely but agressive yellow Galba damsels that are also in the 300. The Galbas and the Scotts don't even fight with each other. I think it's a bit like keeping a school of tiger barbs verus keeping just one lonely frustrated one.

 

[Anonymous]

I just saw that very same mix in one of the displays at the Birch Aquarium. They were perfectly happy, no squabbling at all. The black-cap was a serious little chunk o' meat, the gramma was a bit smaller.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

I have a harem of Royal Gramma in my tank. I never keep Black Cap Gamma. I don't think the Royal Gramma will be any problem. They don't give my Orchid Dotty back any problem at all even when the Orchid just got drop into the tank.
Minh Nguyen

 

[wombat1]

I have a trio of flame angels in the 300 that could care less about the C. argi or the C. aurantonotus they share the tank with

Mitch, do these two bother each other at all? I've been a bit skeptical of pygmy angels supposed intolerance of each other. I kept a C. argi and C. bispinosus together in an 80 that would feed right next to each other.

I think with enough space in a tank like yours you should try it.

 

[tazdevil]

I've personally never tried it, however, have heard from some who did with success. The key is to provide multiple caves for both species- both are cave dwellers. They'll tend to stay to their cave, and leave each other alone. The initial fights can get ugly, you have to watch CLOSE until everyone settles down. Just be careful which "roayl gramma" you get. There is a lookalike from brazil (called the brazilian gramma, go figure) that is very aggressive and territorial, unlike the original royal g. Check Scott Michaels book for the description of the two.

 

[sschafer]

Ha! I was there in November. That is the largest Black Cap I have EVER seen!

-Steve

I just saw that very same mix in one of the displays at the Birch Aquarium. They were perfectly happy, no squabbling at all. The black-cap was a serious little chunk o' meat, the gramma was a bit smaller.

 

[sschafer]

Mitch,

I have a single Royal and a single Black Cap in my 120. The Royal is dominant, but not overly agressive. Heck the Royal even displays at my Cirrhilabrus lineatus that dwarf him. He'll open his jaws up and the lineatus will almost just brush up against his mouth as if darring him to do something. Very interesting to watch. I may try adding another Black Cap or two later on. I'm also interested in trying a pair of Swiss Guards or Swalisi Guards. Do you have any pics of your pair of SGs?

-Steve

I would like to put a trio of black cap basslets and a pair of royal grammas in my 300-cylinder tank. Has anyone had any success keeping these species together? I believe the tank is large enough that it might work, but would like to hear from others who have tried this mix. I have a pair of royal grammas and a pair a swiss guards in my home 75-gallon and they get along great.
Thanks

 

[dizzy]

I have a trio of flame angels in the 300 that could care less about the C. argi or the C. aurantonotus they share the tank with

Mitch, do these two bother each other at all? I've been a bit skeptical of pygmy angels supposed intolerance of each other. I kept a C. argi and C. bispinosus together in an 80 that would feed right next to each other.

wombat,
I don't want to be responsible for a bunch of Centropyge angels getting beat up because I told people mine got along, but: I have C. argi and C. aurantonotus getting along with each other in two different tanks.( 75 & 300) I believe Ming has the same combo. I do have the three flame angels in with the pygmy (C. argi) and fireball ( C. aurantonotus) and there is no hounding going on. Little spats occur but nothing serious. (mostly among the flames) I also have a lemon peel and flame angel together in a 220. It is very easy to get a pair or trio of flame angels, by putting different sizes together. Two small and one large for a trio. One large and one small for a pair.

IME the black caps are pretty mellow, but they do get bigger than the royal grammas. The black caps are more susceptible to diseases or parasites. The pair of royal grammas I have at home are the Brazilian ones, but they don't bother the Swissguards or the pygmy angels. I have the new Atlantic royal grammas and the black caps in seperate quarantine tanks, but will introduce them into the 300 at the same time. There are plenty of caves in the 300 and it should be enjoyable seeing them together.
Thanks for the replys

 

[Minh Nguyen]

I got a Cherub (C. argi) and a Fireball ( C. aurantonotus) in my tank and they mate almost every few nights. The Cherub is the female releasing eggs and the Fireball is the male releasing sperms.
Minh

 

[wombat1]

Cool! I wonder if a hybrid could live, like the C. flavissimus X C. vrolikii.

 

[dizzy]

wombat,
I just created this pair yesterday. They are in a 15-gallon that is attached to a small central system. If anybody wants them send me an e-mail.

 

[dizzy]

Well I put a black cap and one royal gramma into the 300 gallon. I thought they would both end up at opposite ends of the tank somewhere on the bottom. They both actually have their cave in the fake live rock in the upper third of the tank. They are neighbors too and live about 8" from each other with the royal gramma upstairs. They never seem to fight or even display towards each other. I am surprised at how well they get along. I will be adding potential mates for both in the future. Have a look at the pic.