About Black Cap Basslet
The Black Cap Basslet is a close relative of the popular Royal Gramma but features a black cap on the head instead of the Royal Gramma's purple front. They have a yellow/orange body with the distinctive black cap and are slightly more aggressive than Royal Grammas. Native to the Caribbean, these cave-dwelling fish need plenty of rockwork with caves and crevices. They are beautiful additions to reef tanks but will be aggressive toward similar-looking fish like Royal Grammas and other basslets. One per tank is recommended.
Black Cap Basslet Care Requirements
Care Requirements
Tank Setup
Black Cap Basslets need caves and rockwork.
Essential Setup:
- 30+ gallons
- Live rock with caves (essential)
- Moderate flow
- Temperature 72-78°F
Water Quality
- Temperature: 72-78°F (22-25.5°C)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.025
- Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: <20 ppm
Feeding
Carnivores:
- Frozen Mysis shrimp
- Frozen brine shrimp
- Marine pellets
- Copepods
Behavior & Compatibility
Semi-aggressive and territorial:
- Territorial: Defend caves fiercely
- Semi-aggressive: To similar-looking fish
- Cave dwellers: Hide in rockwork
- Shy: Without proper caves
Good Tank Mates:
- Clownfish
- Tangs
- Blennies
- Gobies
- Fish that look different
Avoid:
- Royal Gramma (will fight)
- Other basslets
- Dottybacks
- Similar color/pattern fish
Cave Dwelling
- Need caves: Essential for security
- Territorial: Defend chosen cave
- Hiding: Spend time in caves
- Observation: Peek out from hiding
Coloration
- Black cap: Distinctive black head
- Yellow/orange body: Bright color
- Dorsal fin: Often black
Comparison to Royal Gramma
- Similar size: 3-4 inches
- Different colors: Black cap vs. purple front
- More aggressive: Than Royal Grammas
- One per tank: Don’t mix species
Tips for Success
- Provide plenty of caves
- One per tank (don’t mix with Royal Gramma)
- May be shy initially
- Semi-aggressive to similar fish
- Beautiful alternative to Royal Gramma