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.
Care Guide
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