Brazilian gramma
Gramma brasiliensis
Also known as Brazilian Basslet
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 3.5 in
- 9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 gal
- 150 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Cave spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Grammatidae
- Origin
- Brazilian coast, Southwestern Atlantic
Overview
The Brazilian gramma looks like a royal gramma but carries noticeably more attitude. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
The Brazilian gramma stayed a curiosity in the hobby for years, because Brazil tightly limits marine ornamental exports. Captive breeding is what finally made it available with any regularity.
Caring for the Brazilian gramma
Give the Brazilian gramma at least 40 gal (150 L) with established rockwork. Include at least one cave it can call its own. Keep the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.
It eats meaty frozen and prepared foods readily. It leaves corals and ornamental invertebrates alone, so it is reef safe.
It defends a larger territory than a royal gramma and harasses fish that linger near its cave. Keep it with similarly robust tank mates, skip very small or timid fish, and house one per tank.
Like its relatives, the Brazilian gramma is a crevice spawner, and breeding it is of medium difficulty. Captive-bred fish are produced in small numbers.
Good to know
The Brazilian gramma, Gramma brasiliensis, is a basslet in the family Grammatidae, described in 1998. It looks so much like the royal gramma that the two were long confused. Its purple front half meets the yellow rear in a cleaner, more abrupt line, and the fish runs slightly larger.
In the wild
The Brazilian gramma replaces the royal gramma along the Brazilian coast. It lives in caves and under ledges on rocky and coral reefs in the southwestern Atlantic. It stays close to shelter and swims with its belly toward the rock, like the rest of its family.
Common questions
What size tank does a Brazilian gramma need?
A Brazilian gramma needs at least 40 gal (150 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Brazilian gramma need?
A Brazilian gramma is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a Brazilian gramma eat?
A Brazilian gramma eats meaty frozen and prepared foods readily.
How big does a Brazilian gramma get?
An adult Brazilian gramma reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).
How does a Brazilian gramma breed?
Brazilian grammas are crevice spawners, like their relatives. Breeding them is of medium difficulty, and captive-bred fish are produced in small numbers.
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