Gramma dejongi

Gramma dejongi, commonly known as Dejong's basslet, is a small colourful basslet which is named after the discoverer of the fish and founder of De Jong Marinelife, Arie De Jong. This makes this fish off course extra special to us, but we think this fish is beautiful to everyone! Just like the Gramma loreto they’ve purple pelvic fins and purple in the beginning of the dorsal fin. But unlike their close relative they’ve an entire yellow body with only some purple on their belly around the pelvic fins.

These fish like the safety of a cave or other hiding spots around the shallow reefs and they can often be observed upside-down under a ledge. In nature a territory is formed in such caves with 1 to a few individuals.  In a small aquarium it is best to only house one Gramma, but if the tank is large enough you can try to house a group. Best buy them small and in different sizes to have the smallest change of quibbling among the group.

These fish are planktivores, so make sure to feed them multiple times a day a varied diet of small meaty live and frozen foods like copepods and brine shrimp. Once they're settled in your aquarium they should usually start eating high quality flakes and pellets as well.