Blackcap basslet
Gramma melacara
FishSaltwater
- Care level
- Easy
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Reef safe
- Yes
- Recommended tank
- 150 L
- Maximum size
- 10 cm
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C
- pH
- 8–8.4
- Diet
- Planktivore
Care at a glance
The blackcap basslet from the Caribbean is a deep violet-purple with a crisp black cap over the top of the head. It comes from deeper, shaded reef walls and in the aquarium likes to stay under overhangs, often with its belly to the rock.
It is small, hardy and easy to feed, but it does fiercely defend its own crevice against similar fish. Keep one per tank, provide plenty of rock structure with caves and do not house it with the behaviourally similar royal gramma.
Good to know
Best not combined with
Related species
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Values are mainstream hobbyist guidance, not gospel — always watch what your own animals need.