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Blackcap Basslet
Basslet

Blackcap Basslet

Gramma melacara

A striking deep-purple basslet capped in velvety black — a Caribbean cave-dweller that, like its Royal Gramma cousin, often hovers upside-down beneath ledges and bolts into the rock when startled. It is peaceful toward unrelated tankmates but noticeably more territorial than the Royal Gramma, defending its cave against other basslets and similar cave fish, so groups need a large tank with plenty of caves. Reef-safe and best under slightly subdued lighting, reflecting its deeper-water origin.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
3.9"
Min tank
30 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Planktivore
Zone
Caves, Rockwork
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Blackcap Basslet gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Royal GrammaTwo Gramma basslets of nearly identical shape and habit, each wanting the same cave and the same patch of rock. The Blackcap is the more territorial of the pair.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blackcap Basslet.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blackcap Basslet.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blackcap Basslet.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blackcap Basslet.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blackcap Basslet.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blackcap Basslet.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Six-Line SoapfishSix-Line Soapfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blackcap Basslet.Painted FrogfishPainted Frogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blackcap Basslet.Dogface PufferDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blackcap Basslet.Porcupine PufferPorcupine Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blackcap Basslet.Brazilian GrammaBlackcap Basslet and Brazilian Gramma are the same genus (Gramma) and will fight — keep only one.Lunare WrasseLunare Wrasse (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Spanish HogfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blackcap Basslet.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Sailfin TangSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Naso TangNaso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Scopas TangScopas Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Blueface AngelfishBlueface Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Niger TriggerfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Blonde Naso TangBlonde Naso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Desjardini Sailfin TangDesjardini Sailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.Orange Shoulder TangOrange Shoulder Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Blackcap Basslet and may harass it.