Meet the Fairy Basslet

If you've ever dove a Caribbean reef, you've most likely encountered this vibrant fish: meet the Royal Gramma, or more commonly known as the Fairy Basslet. These fish generally reach lengths of 8 cm and can often be found swimming upside down under cave ceilings! They actually start their lives off as females, and can change sex when the opportunity for a male to lead the harem opens up. Commonly found in schools of dozens to hundreds, the Fairy Basslets commonly feed on crustaceans and parasites, and are also a popular prey item of eels! With purple fronts and yellow tails, their bodies are split into two colors with a black spot on their dorsal fins. Generally found under ledges or in caves, fairy basslets are coral reef inhabitants. Fairy basslets are known to swim upside-down under ledges and along cave ceilings. They live in colonies and defend their territory from other species and even other fairy basslets. Male fairy basslets guard and care for the eggs and the nest.