Royal Gramma Tank Mates
Royal Gramma is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 17 freshwater species that pair well with a royal gramma — plus the 0 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for a royal gramma
- Clown Goby ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Neon Goby ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Banggai Cardinalfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Blue Damselfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Firefish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Green Chromis ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Ocellaris Clownfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Percula Clownfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Six Line Wrasse ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Yellow Watchman Goby ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 9 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Bicolor Blenny ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Lawnmower Blenny ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 13 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Clarkii Clownfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 14 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Domino Damselfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Aggressive · 14 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Tomato Clownfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 14 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Maroon Clownfish ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Aggressive · 15 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Mandarin Dragonet ✅ CompatibleHard care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Royal Gramma tank mates that can work with care
- Bicolor Angelfish ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Blue Tang ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Cleaner Wrasse ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Peaceful · 11 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Coral Beauty Angelfish ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Diamond Goby ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Emperor Angelfish ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Semi-aggressive · 38 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~850 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Flame Angelfish ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Foxface Rabbitfish ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 24 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Your 110 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
+ 9 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with a royal gramma
No outright no-gos among the species in our database yet — but always avoid fish much larger, much more aggressive, or needing very different water.
Check any fish against a royal gramma
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a royal gramma, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Tank-mate checker
Will it live with a Royal Gramma?
We compare each fish against your royal gramma on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Banggai Cardinalfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Bicolor Blenny✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Blue Damselfish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Clarkii Clownfish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Clown Goby✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Domino Damselfish✅ CompatibleAggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Firefish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Green Chromis✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Green Chromis in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Lawnmower Blenny✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 13 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Mandarin Dragonet✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Maroon Clownfish✅ CompatibleAggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Neon Goby✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Ocellaris Clownfish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Percula Clownfish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Six Line Wrasse✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Tomato Clownfish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Yellow Watchman Goby✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Bicolor Angelfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Blue Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Cleaner Wrasse⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 11 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Coral Beauty Angelfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Diamond Goby⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Emperor Angelfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 38 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~850 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Flame Angelfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Foxface Rabbitfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 24 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Kole Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 18 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Melanurus Wrasse⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Naso Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 45 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~680 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Purple Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Regal Angelfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 25 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~480 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Sailfin Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 40 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~570 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Yellow Coris Wrasse⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Yellow Tang⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Setting up a royal gramma community tank
Give the group a stable, planted 110 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.
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How to choose the right tank mates for a royal gramma
As a peaceful species, royal gramma is easily bullied — favour other calm, non-nippy fish and steer clear of boisterous or aggressive tank mates. It mostly occupies the bottom of the tank, so it pairs naturally with species that use the other levels.
Royal Gramma grows to about 8 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 4 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 24–27 °C (75–81 °F), pH 8–8.4 and 8–12 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.
Royal Gramma doesn't need its own kind to feel secure; think twice before keeping more than one if it is territorial. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.
Frequently asked questions
Can a royal gramma live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 17 compatible freshwater species for royal gramma. Pick calm, similarly-sized fish that share its water needs and add them to a mature, well-planted tank.
What is the best tank mate for a royal gramma?
Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Clown Goby, Neon Goby, Banggai Cardinalfish. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.
What fish should you avoid keeping with a royal gramma?
No outright no-gos in our current database, but always avoid fish that are much larger, much more aggressive, or that need very different water.
How big a tank do royal gramma tank mates need?
Start from Royal Gramma's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 110 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.