Joachim Großkopf, Deutschland
Info
Gramma linki, Starck & Colin, 1978
A very rare representative of the fairy perch family.
Peter Schmiedel was able to get hold of it and we report on its keeping below.
Comes partly from a great depth, fishbase writes 27-130 metres! Its food certainly includes small, particulate, fleshy food (tiny crustaceans).
Moving behaviour:
The transfer of the fairy perch should be done carefully, the fish tend to go into shock in the transport bag or after transfer, which, however, quickly dissipates.
Should therefore soon accept frozen food in the aquarium.
Due to the depth it lives at, we think it will be rather shy in a reef aquarium.
A well structured aquarium (decoration) is probably very important, so that the fish has a good retreat possibility.
The keeping is the same as for Gramma melacara.
If caves and tubes are available, the fairy perch can often be found standing in the open water.
Keeping them in pairs would be desirable, if feasible.
Hardly ever found in the German trade, but if it is, the price is about 400,00 € (as of 12/2022).
Sex and mating
In addition, the sex of this species is determined after hatching and cannot be changed (gonochoric), at least once they reach a certain size/age. The sex develops during spawning and is determined by the water temperature.
The male fish is larger than the female. Subsequent mating may be successful, but this is not guaranteed. Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence on this yet. Perhaps subsequent mating is successful if the replacement fish are still very small.
If you have any personal experience or scientific reports on this, we would be very grateful for any information.
A very rare representative of the fairy perch family.
Peter Schmiedel was able to get hold of it and we report on its keeping below.
Comes partly from a great depth, fishbase writes 27-130 metres! Its food certainly includes small, particulate, fleshy food (tiny crustaceans).
Moving behaviour:
The transfer of the fairy perch should be done carefully, the fish tend to go into shock in the transport bag or after transfer, which, however, quickly dissipates.
Should therefore soon accept frozen food in the aquarium.
Due to the depth it lives at, we think it will be rather shy in a reef aquarium.
A well structured aquarium (decoration) is probably very important, so that the fish has a good retreat possibility.
The keeping is the same as for Gramma melacara.
If caves and tubes are available, the fairy perch can often be found standing in the open water.
Keeping them in pairs would be desirable, if feasible.
Hardly ever found in the German trade, but if it is, the price is about 400,00 € (as of 12/2022).
Sex and mating
In addition, the sex of this species is determined after hatching and cannot be changed (gonochoric), at least once they reach a certain size/age. The sex develops during spawning and is determined by the water temperature.
The male fish is larger than the female. Subsequent mating may be successful, but this is not guaranteed. Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence on this yet. Perhaps subsequent mating is successful if the replacement fish are still very small.
If you have any personal experience or scientific reports on this, we would be very grateful for any information.
