Royal Dotty Back or Royal Gramma

gauthig · 06/04/2006, 07:43 PM

How do you tell the difference of a Royal Dotty and Royal Gramma. Two different species with different temperments.

I think I bought a Royal Gramma, but want to be sure before adding anymore fish.

seahorse 101 · 10/20/2010, 06:20 PM

a gramma will be more agressive to new fish

NexDog · 10/20/2010, 07:41 PM

Wrong. The Royal Dotty is probably the meanest small fish you can put in your tank.

Easy to tell the difference between the 2. The Royal Dotty is more streamlined and the pink and yellow colours are separated by a line rather than fade into each other like the Gramma. The Gramma also has way bigger fins.

Robka · 10/21/2010, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seahorse 101

a gramma will be more agressive to new fish

I have never had any aggression problems with R. Gramma's. This is my second and he is a model citizen. If other fish get 2 close for comfort he will flare his gills, but that's it (doesn't chase or nip) Plus both my RG's were very hardy

Good luck

Robka · 10/21/2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robka

I have never had any aggression problems with R. Gramma's. This is my second and he is a model citizen. If other fish get 2 close for comfort he will flare his gills, but that's it (doesn't chase or nip) Plus both my RG's were very hardy

Good luck

I forgot 2 add that both my Royal Gramma's were the first fish I introduced to my main tank and thus they had plenty of time to establish themselves, but stayed peaceful

Moort82 · 10/21/2010, 03:18 PM

As above the easiest way is the fading between the two colours but they also have the black spot on the dorsal.

Sheol · 10/21/2010, 05:27 PM

Totally different temperments. Grammas are pretty peaceful, unless they are cramped in small quarters with other grammas.
Royal (Bicolor) Dottybacks (Pictochromis) are hands down, the worst of the small dottybacks. They can be real terrors!

Matthew
I assume the OP knew this & wanted to know how to seperate the two species. Aside from what's been said, Dotty's have a slight dent in their eye that makes them look mean & aggressive..

davocean · 10/21/2010, 06:02 PM

I love gramma's, almost always great personality.
I'll never get a dotyback ever again, agree, super mean for a small fish.

davocean · 10/21/2010, 06:03 PM

Oh yeah,

To Reef Central

jonathansruelas · 10/21/2010, 10:22 PM

i agree the royal gamma isn't aggressive, if anything they get harrassed and killed by more aggressive fish(dotty)

Robka · 10/29/2010, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonathansruelas

i agree the royal gamma isn't aggressive, if anything they get harrassed and killed by more aggressive fish(dotty)

It sounds like seahorse must have received the odd "evil" gramma

06/04/2006, 07:43 PM	#1
gauthig Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Apple Valley, CA Posts: 1	Royal Dotty Back or Royal Gramma How do you tell the difference of a Royal Dotty and Royal Gramma. Two different species with different temperments. I think I bought a Royal Gramma, but want to be sure before adding anymore fish.

10/20/2010, 07:41 PM	#3
NexDog Snail Killer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kyushu, Japan Posts: 4,804	Wrong. The Royal Dotty is probably the meanest small fish you can put in your tank. Easy to tell the difference between the 2. The Royal Dotty is more streamlined and the pink and yellow colours are separated by a line rather than fade into each other like the Gramma. The Gramma also has way bigger fins. __________________ Laurence Flynn 340g In-Wall Envision Tank and 150g Sump. Current Tank Info: Deltec 902, PFO hood with 3x400w Radium 20k and 4x96w PC's. Hammerhead closed loop - and 2 x Tunze 6105 (and Vortech still sucks).

10/21/2010, 06:02 PM	#8
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I love gramma's, almost always great personality. I'll never get a dotyback ever again, agree, super mean for a small fish. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

10/21/2010, 06:03 PM	#9
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Oh yeah, *To Reef Central* __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

10/20/2010, 06:20 PM	#2
seahorse 101 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 4	a gramma will be more agressive to new fish

10/21/2010, 03:18 PM	#6
Moort82 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Norfolk, England Posts: 1,576	As above the easiest way is the fading between the two colours but they also have the black spot on the dorsal.

10/21/2010, 05:27 PM	#7
Sheol Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Waxahachie, Tx. Posts: 3,610	Totally different temperments. Grammas are pretty peaceful, unless they are cramped in small quarters with other grammas. Royal (Bicolor) Dottybacks (Pictochromis) are hands down, the worst of the small dottybacks. They can be real terrors! Matthew I assume the OP knew this & wanted to know how to seperate the two species. Aside from what's been said, Dotty's have a slight dent in their eye that makes them look mean & aggressive..

10/21/2010, 10:22 PM	#10
jonathansruelas Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sylmar, 91342 Posts: 622	i agree the royal gamma isn't aggressive, if anything they get harrassed and killed by more aggressive fish(dotty)