Who?
Family: Grammatidae
Species: Gramma loreto
Species ID: G.GL
Description: A small fish with an elongated body and long, elegant pelvic fins (1). The fairy basslet has a distinctive colour pattern with a bright blue to purple head and bright yellow rear, typically with some yellow lines on the cheeks just over the gill covers (2), a dark line running diagonally through the eye (3), and a black spot at the leading edge of the dorsal fin (4). Sexes appear similar, although males grow larger than females, and juveniles resemble adults
Maximum Size: 8 cm (3 in)
Longevity: Typically 5 years, but can live up to 13 years
Status: Not enough information is currently available to assess the IUCN status of this species
Fairy Basslet & People: The fairy basslet is not caught as a food fish, but is intensely collected for the aquarium trade
Where?
Geographical Range: Found throughout the Caribbean, though largely absent from the Gulf of Mexico
Coral Reef Zone: Found in the fore reef and drop-off zones
Favourite Habitat: Prefer steep, vertical habitats such as tall coral outcroppings or reef walls with plenty of caves and ledges for hiding
Depth Range : 1–60 m (3-180 ft)
A Day in The Life:
Dawn: Courtship and mating behaviour occurs at dawn
Day: During the day, fairy basslets feed, defend their territories and maintain nests in season
Dusk: Fairy basslets seek shelter for the night
Night: Fairy basslets rest deep inside shelter holes
Who Eats Who
The fairy basslet feeds mainly on small free-living crustaceans that drift in the current, such as copepods, mysid shrimp, and the planktonic larvae of larger crustaceans. Occasionally they pick parasitic organisms from larger fish. This basslet is eaten by a variety of reef predators including snapper, grouper, and eels.
Scuba Diver & Snorkeler Best Practices
Never remove living organisms from the reef : A beautiful shell or piece of coral may make a tempting gift for a friend and family member, but needless to say, removing organisms from the coral reef is incredibly damaging and often illegal. Shells are often home to living creatures, whether it is the original inhabitant or a sheltering hermit crab. Certain shells play a vital role in the health of the reef, such as the large, horn shaped ‘triton trumpet’, the only natural predator of the coral consuming crown of thorns starfish. Remember the maxim: “Take only pictures and memories; leave only bubbles.”
What?
Approach
These fish are very easy to approach during the day, and slow movements should allow close observation. Fish may become wary when divers approach too close. Observation at a distance of roughly 2 m (6 ft) is recommended in order to observe a more natural range of behaviours.
Feeding Behaviour The fairy basslet is a carnivore that feeds actively on small crustaceans during the day. Divers and snorkelers may see fairy basslets darting a few inches from the reef to pick copepods or shrimp from the plankton, and then rushing back to safety. Occasionally, these fish act as cleaners, picking parasitic organisms from larger fish.
Observe, record & share:
O G.GL-101 – Plankton picking: Fairy basslets dart from the protection of the reef to capture planktonic food before dashing back to their shelter holes
O G.GL-102 – Cleaning: Fairy basslets sometimes pick parasites off the bodies of larger fish
Attack & Defense Behaviour Fairy basslets defend a small territory usually containing a hiding hole or cave, which can double as a nesting site for male fish. Large male fairy basslets may defend a small colony of breeding females against other males. The fairy basslet’s chief defence involves retreating into its hiding hole, which they rarely stray far from. Under ledges these fish often swim upside down which is thought to allow them a better view of their shelter for a quick retreat. Territorial defence usually involves a quick chase, but aggressive displays are sometimes used to settle more serious disputes. In territorial displays, a fairy basslet may face an opponent with the body curved into an s-shape and the mouth open wide. If the opponent does not retreat, the two fish may lock jaws and wrestle. On rare occasions, and especially when guarding a nest full of eggs, male fairy basslets may bite intruders that come too close for comfort – including human fingers!
Observe, record & share:
O G.GL-201 – Upside-down swimming: Swimming upside-down against the ceiling of ledges and overhangs
O G.GL-202 – Chase: Fairy basslets chase intruders from their territory
O G.GL-203 – S-shape display: Fairy basslets curve their body into an s-shape to show aggression
O G.GL-204 – Mouth display: Fairy basslet open their mouth wide while facing the threat
O G.GL-205 – Mouth fighting: Two fairy basslet grasp each other’s mouths and wrestle
O G.GL-206 – Biting: Males guarding eggs may bite fish that come too close
Reproductive Behaviour These fish are very easy to approach during the day, and slow movements should allow close observation. Fish may become wary when divers approach too close. Observation at a distance of roughly 2 m (6 ft) is recommended in order to observe a more natural range of behaviours. Fairy basslets reproduce sexually and do not change sex during sexual development. Fairy basslets typically mate at random with their neighbours, but some live in large colonies where many females are guarded by one or two large males which breed with all colony members. The breeding season begins when males prepare nests inside their hiding holes. The process starts with a little spring cleaning, collecting silt and debris from inside the hole and spitting it out at the exit. Once the nest is clean, males then rip algae from the reef, blowing it in and out of their mouth to shake loose debris and small organisms, and then take it inside their hole where it is used to make a soft mat on which the female deposits her eggs. Males may even use debris to block additional entrances to the nest to make it more secure. When females are ready to spawn, males approach them and perform one of several courtship displays, such as spreading their fins and quivering, before making a quick u-turn and returning to their nest. The female may follow and enter the nest with the male where spawning occurs in private. A male’s nest may contain eggs from many females at the same time, which he cleans and guards vigilantly. Eggs hatch roughly 10 days after spawning and the fry disperse into the plankton. Fairy basslets spawn at dawn in the hour just after sunrise and their breeding season spans from February to June.
Observe, record & share:
O G.GL-301 – Nest cleaning: Males emerge from their hole and spit out sand and other debris
O G.GL-302 – Nest building: Males rip algae from the reef, blowing it in and out of their mouth to clean it, and return to their hiding holes to add it to the nest
O G.GL-303 – Nest guarding: Males hover just inside the entrance of their nest, on the lookout for egg predators
O G.GL-304 – Male courtship display: Male courtship can involve spreading their fins and quivering, while facing the female
O G.GL-305 – Male u-turn: After courtship, males return to their nest, hoping the female will follow
Highlight Behaviors
Nest cleaning: Fairy basslet males spend a lot of time building a nest and making sure it is kept clean. Divers and snorkelers may see fairy basslets entering their nests and emerging to spit out mouthfuls of sand (1). This can sometimes look like the fish is blowing a smoke ring when the sand is very fine (2). By keeping the nest clean and in good repair, fairy basslet males are sure to impress females that visit the nest and at the same time improve the chances of eggs surviving once they are laid. If silt and sand (3) were not removed from the nest, they would soon cover the eggs and reduce their ability to breathe and eliminate waste.
Did You Know?
• Small males of this species do not spawn because they cannot compete with larger males for mates. Instead, they put all of their energy into rapid growth so that they can reach spawning size more quickly.
What to do ?
Share your observations today!: Discover your species of interest, observe its behaviour, and share your pictures and videos with friends and coral reef enthusiasts around the world! Upload media to the web, tagged with species common name (ex.: trumpetfish) and species ID code (ex.: A.AM) or species behaviour code (ex.: A.AM-101)
Observation
O Easy
O Not so easy
O Tough
