Gramma loreto is found in the Caribbean, where it lives in cave overhangs and ledge undersides. In the aquarium, Royal Grammas adopt the same behavior: they hover near rockwork, often upside-down under overhangs, darting to catch food and retreating to their territory. The split coloration - purple anterior, yellow posterior - is unique among common reef fish.
Royal Grammas thrive with rockwork that includes overhangs and caves. Provide at least one cave the fish can claim as territory. Lighting can be standard reef, no special requirements. Salinity 1.024-1.026, pH 8.1-8.4, standard reef temps.
Accept frozen mysis, frozen brine, prepared pellets, and most reef foods readily. No special feeding requirements. Captive-bred specimens (Sea & Reef, ORA) are particularly easy to wean to dry foods.
Royal Grammas are mostly peaceful. They will defend their cave from other small territorial fish (jawfish, dottybacks, other grammas). Avoid:
Excellent tankmates: clownfish, gobies, blennies, cardinalfish, peaceful wrasses (six-line is borderline - sometimes nips Royal Gramma), small tangs (in larger tanks).
ORA and Sea & Reef captive-breed Royal Grammas. Captive-bred specimens are dramatically hardier than wild-caught and accept prepared foods immediately. Pricing $40-80 captive-bred vs $25-50 wild-caught.