Why's Gramma Diggin'

[smidoid]

Because she's making somewhere to hide Grampa's body!

Right, now I've saved all the other comedians the effort, seriously, my Royal Gramma is excavating under some live rock. It's been doing this quite busily for a couple of days, getting a mouthful of aragonite, swimming to the far end of the tank and then spitting it out (over my seaweed!)

Is this (pre)mating behavior? I only have the one, but it's a curious and quite interesting site to watch.

Also, as a matter of interest, do both sexes do this? If not, which?

[BubbaWPB]

Very interesting... my grammas don't dig. I've heard of grammas mating in tanks, but if you only have one... ??? Keep us posted....

[greenbean36191]

Mine digs, but I don't know anything more about it than you.

[kevinpo]

Hello,
About one in fifteen I get in exhibit digging behavior. They are building a nest/house. More often you will see them collect small pieces of plant matter and stuff them into a hole in the rocks where they sleep. They will sleep in the same spot each night once settled in.

Regards,
Kevin

[smidoid]

Sleeping in the same spot - yes, mine does that. It's adopted a couple of caves that it can dive into when alarmed. Really quite fascinating.