Grouper

Amy Tokic
by Amy Tokic
fast facts

About Grouper

Size
Large
Group
Saltwater
Temperament
Aggressive
Aquarium Size
Very large (200 gal)
Swimming Region
All
Fish Water Condition
Suitable Tank Mates
Large Angelfish, Rabbitfish, Lionfish and Tangs
Difficulty Of Care
Weekly care
Grouper General description


Groupers are a large family of saltwater fish characterized by their stout bodies and over-sized mouths. Although a hardy, colorful and highly fascinating species of fish, groupers should only be kept by dedicated aquarists with ample space to raise them. Various species of grouper vary in length from a few feet to well over 9 feet in length. Although most aquarium varieties only grow to around 12 inches in length, they still require extremely large accommodations.


Groupers are a large family of saltwater fish characterized by their stout bodies and over-sized mouths.


Origins


Groupers originate primarily from the Indo-Pacific Ocean.


Color


Most aquarium kept species of grouper are incredibly colorful and have complex patterns and markings on their bodies. They come in shades of red, yellow, orange, blue, green, purple, brown, white and black.


Maintenance and care

The most important consideration before purchasing groupers for your aquarium is its potential size. It is not uncommon for novice aquarists to purchase young fish that are only a few inches in length to soon find out that they cannot keep up with the growth potential of their fish. For this reason it is advisable to always house groupers are in very large aquariums of 200 gallons or more. They also prefer aquariums with large open swimming spaces as well as plenty of hiding places. They feel more comfortable and will be less reclusive in the aquarium when they have hiding places which they can retreat to when feeling threatened. The size of the aquarium is also important because of the significant amount of waste that these fish produce.


Groupers are also a predatory species of fish and should never be housed with smaller species of fish that they can easily fit in their mouths. However, they are able to exist quite peacefully with larger species of fish and other groupers provided that they are housed in sufficiently large aquariums. When introducing a grouper to an aquarium, it is advisable to change the aquarium’s décor to disrupt the territories of the established tank mates as groupers can sometimes be very timid when first introduced to a tank. This is also important if you’re introducing a new fish to an aquarium with a grouper in it as it can respond aggressively towards new tank mates.


The most important consideration before purchasing a grouper for your aquarium is its potential size.


Feeding


Groupers are carnivores and should be fed on a varied diet of live and frozen foods like shrimp, baitfish, scallops and squid.


Breeding


Little is known about breeding groupers in captivity.


Aquarium varieties


Panther Grouper, Blue Dot Grouper, Blue Line Grouper, Red Louti Grouper, Spotted Coral Grouper, etc.


Photo credit: Udo Schröter/Wikimedia

Amy Tokic
Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

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