Interesting Royal Gramma behaviour
 

I picked up a Royal Gramma from Golds last weekend and currently have him in quarantine. He spent the first 4 days hiding under the rock so I haven't been able to see that much of him/her. It's getting quite a bit bolder now and I've noticed some behaviour I haven't seen from a fish before. When he's out in the open water in the Q-tank he swims right side up. When maneouvering under the rock though he will quite often be upside down... almost like he's using his bottom fins on the rock.

He eats pellets like a pig and is fat and healthy looking so I'm not really worried, the first time I saw him hanging out upside down I was a little concerned but now it's just kind of neat. Is this typical behaviour for the breed?

All the grammas I've ever owned perched and swam upside down under the rocks. They're little weirdos for sure.

I've read in many SW fish books that they will do this.

Cool, he's fun to watch. The quarantine tank is sitting by my computer desk so he spends a lot of time watching me when he thinks I'm not watching him!

They don't have lateral lines so they can't tell up from down, my gramma frequently swims open tank upside down

Yup, my gramma does it and both my assessors too

Heck, Even my Midas Blenny does this. Is funny to watch. It's little things like this that really add to their personality.

I see my Gramma swimming in the oddest ways more than I see him swimming upright, they are a great fish and one of the most fun to watch playing in your live rock.

I'm really happy I finally found one, apparently they are quite common... except when I happen to be in a store!

very common for any gramma really.

Great fish all in all, I would keep my harem of 4 over just about any other species out there...