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Interesting Facts about the Fairy Basslet
[Phylum: Chordata] [Class: Actinopterygii] [Order: Blenniiformes] [Family: Grammatidae]
Imagine a small marine fish with deep purple colouration on its head and golden yellow on its tail. This is Gramma loreto, one of the most distinctive of all basslets.
This guide contains fun facts and information about the fairy basslet, often called the royal gramma, such as what they eat, where they live, and how they reproduce.
Distribution and Habitat of Gramma Loreto
You may have already seen the royal gramma fish if you enjoy scuba diving or keeping fish for a hobby.
In the wild, they are native to tropical and some subtropical waters, but especially around shallow coastal coral reef environments in:
- Western Atlantic Ocean (e.g. Bahamas, Caribbean Sea)
- Northern parts of South America (e.g. Venezuela)
- Guatemala and south to Costa Rica
- The Gulf of Mexico (including Cuba and Florida)
You can also find the fairy basslet fish existing in some marine habitats with temperate water (e.g. with saltwater temperatures ranging between 22° and 25° Celsius).
They spend most of their time feeding around shallow coastlines. Even so, they have been documented at depths approaching 100 metres (over 300 feet).
Pro Tip: The fish family Grammatidae is a large diverse group that includes more than fifty (50) different species. As a consequence, basslets have become popular in the aquarium trade and kept as colourful pets in many small and medium-sized aquariums.
Royal Gramma Behaviour and Characteristics
The most striking feature of the fairy basslet (Gramma loreto) is the stark division of two body colours. The royal gramma features an amazing display of violet on the front half that gradually fades into bright yellow on the back half.
Having these variations of body colourations of glowing reds, bold purples, deep blues, and yellows is one of the reasons they are a popular choice when setting up a beginner aquarium.
Here's the thing:
Almost all basslets are small, rarely growing more than seven (7) centimetres long (3 inches). Their body shape is best described as elongated with a prominent dorsal fin (similar to dottybacks fish).
Despite being small enough to hide inside the crevices and underneath the ledges of coral reef formations, they are in fact quite a territorial fish species - especially against unwanted intruders in confined spaces (e.g. crowded fish tanks).
Fun Fact: The royal gramma is known for its strange swimming behaviour. To try and avoid detection, it's quite common to see them swimming upside-down near the ceilings of small caverns or underneath rocky overhangs. Another unusual behavioural pattern to help them seek shelter in the reef is inhabiting a nest fortified with sea urchin spines and sea sponges at the tiny entrance.
What Do Fairy Basslets Eat?
When kept in a fish tank, these miniature carnivores can be fed on a variety of meaty foods, especially brine and mysis shrimp, or finely chopped seafood.
Outside of captivity, basslet fish get their nourishment in the wild by feeding on tiny marine crustaceans and some parasitic organisms (e.g. ectoparasites and fish flesh) at fish cleaning stations.
Hence, their preferred daily diet will include:
Lifespan and Reproduction of Basslets
The spawning season for species that live in tropical water may occur at any time during the year. However, those that inhabit subtropical and temperate areas tend to wait for the warmer months to spawn.
When the breeding season arrives, basslet fish are oviparous, which means the female lays eggs. The males guard the eggs until they hatch - usually scattered in various cavities in the reef.
The larvae become part of the plankton bloom for the first few weeks. Then, they should have grown large enough to join the adult community.
Threats and Predators
As of March 2011 - and according to the endangered species red list - the current conservation status of the fairy basslet species (Gramma Loreto) is "Least Concern".
Despite having a lifespan of up to five (5) years, some of the major contributing factors for the decline in certain vulnerable areas include being eaten as prey by groupers, snappers, and moray eels, as well as:
Fun Fact: In general, most aquarium enthusiasts find basslets easy fish to take care of and often breed them in captivity.
Related Information and Help Guides
- Fun Facts about Red Firefish Goby (Nemateleotris magnifica)
- Dottyback Fish Facts and Species Information with Photos
- Slingjaw Wrasse Facts and Information with Pictures
- Fun Facts about Splendid Dottyback (Manonichthys splendens)
- Slippery Dick Fish Facts (Halichoeres bivittatus)
- Flashlight Fish: Why is it Called the Lantern Eye Fish?
- What are Some Funny Scientific Names for Fish Species?
Note: The short video [6:19 seconds] presented by "LiveAquaria" contains more fascinating facts about the royal gramma when it's kept in a marine aquarium.