Grouper ID...no pic yet though

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13418823#post13418823 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Snapper66
I have Had My Share of Groupers And That Kind Grouper is Beautiful not Shy almost Like a Dog.However Very Agressive about its Space Hopefully you Have Him in a Large Tank.

I have a 240G tank that I will be moving them all into once they grow a bit and I feel its needed. I hope to wait until I move to set it up but I have all the equipment and can set it up anytime now.

As for aggression, I believe you but that sounds so different from him. Maybe because hes the newest or because I have many aggressive fish but he is probably the least aggressive of the big fish I have. He moves out of the way of the puffers if they come near and really moves if the trigger comes his way. The trigger is still the king of the tank and maybe that keeps him a little more subdued.

So far he has been a pleasure to keep and will come right to my hand to take prawns. I just have to be sure to release the prawn before he lunges for it since he swallows them whole

Your right about him being very active and not shy at all. He virtually never hides. Come right to the glass to see me when I go near the tank. Like a dog as you said.

Any more advice? How long did you or have you had yours? How big?

 

[JustinReef]

Oh...hes in a 130G right now. 72"x20"x20"

 

[badbrady06]

where are the pics?

 

[Snapper66]

I had one in a 55 Gallon Tank when I First Had a Grouper 5 Years ago.He was so Beautiful and Was my Favorite Dog Fish back When I was not Smart about this Kind of Grouper.If you Have Him in a 130 Gallon Tank He Should be Fine in their even with Tank Mates.Like I said When I have Had this Kind of Grouper they Grew to a Certain Size and Got Very Agressive. That could be Because He was in a 55 Gallon With a Trigger to Small of a Tank.However in my Experience They are the Most Agressive Grouper I have ever Seen.They are so People Friendly and Cool the Experience of Having one is a Thrill.I belive he Will in Time become the Alpha in that Tank,but You Have a Large Tank and that Should go along Way in Calming Down the Agressive Behavior.I currently Have Five Groupers a Saddle Back and two Blue Spots in a 135 Gallon Tank.A Miniatas Grouper and a Blueline Grouper each in a 55 Gallon Tank.Enjoy Your Grouper Just keep a Eye on Him over the Next Few Months

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13425442#post13425442 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Snapper66
I had one in a 55 Gallon Tank when I First Had a Grouper 5 Years ago.He was so Beautiful and Was my Favorite Dog Fish back When I was not Smart about this Kind of Grouper.If you Have Him in a 130 Gallon Tank He Should be Fine in their even with Tank Mates.Like I said When I have Had this Kind of Grouper they Grew to a Certain Size and Got Very Agressive. That could be Because He was in a 55 Gallon With a Trigger to Small of a Tank.However in my Experience They are the Most Agressive Grouper I have ever Seen.They are so People Friendly and Cool the Experience of Having one is a Thrill.I belive he Will in Time become the Alpha in that Tank,but You Have a Large Tank and that Should go along Way in Calming Down the Agressive Behavior.I currently Have Five Groupers a Saddle Back and two Blue Spots in a 135 Gallon Tank.A Miniatas Grouper and a Blueline Grouper each in a 55 Gallon Tank.Enjoy Your Grouper Just keep a Eye on Him over the Next Few Months

Thanks for the advice. I will keep an eye on him. I actually can't help but watch him because hes such a cool fish! I actually never thought I would ever find a fish that I felt had as much personality as some of the puffers I have kept over the years. This guy has as much or more! He is so friendly. If you put your face right up to the tank and stay still, he will come right up to your face and stare into your eyes. Its amazing.

Since being in the display his colors have changed quite a lot. His purple spots have become much much lighter and his red is not quite as intense. I don't know if this is due to the bright lights or not but I think it may be. At night he goes back to a deeper red and his spots are more purple.

I know, I know...Pics....They are coming, I promise!

 

[Snapper66]

Groupers Change Colors this is Normal According To Mood or Stress or Natural Camoflage.Yes They are very Cool To Have Groupers are Awesome,Mine are Like Dogs at Feeding Time opps got to Go Time to Feed the Dog Fish

 

[JustinReef]

So I decided to try to not feed for a day...The grouper decided he would eat anyways I have no more damsels left in the tank!

He ate all four today by the time I got home. He still looks hungry. He's begging for food with a bulging belly.

What a fish!

 

[Grouperhead]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13433211#post13433211 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by justinpsmith
So I decided to try to not feed for a day...The grouper decided he would eat anyways I have no more damsels left in the tank!

He ate all four today by the time I got home. He still looks hungry. He's begging for food with a bulging belly.

What a fish!

 

[T-T-Trigger]

lol, yes born to eat - it's hard to believe the extent of it until you see it! Imagine how much food those goliath groupers are gulping down everyday in the ocean. wow

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13434214#post13434214 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by T-T-Trigger
lol, yes born to eat - it's hard to believe the extent of it until you see it! Imagine how much food those goliath groupers are gulping down everyday in the ocean. wow

I honestly can't imagine.

What do you guys think this guy should be eating each day? He about 10"...maybe 9"ish...I feel like Im under feeding him. He is getting about one 2" prawn per day and sometimes a few clams as well but never seems full at all. He's always cruising the tank for food. I have yet to see him look full.

I am soooooo tempted to see just how much he can eat but I am scared to find out.

Im also scared to find out how much he will eat at 2' :eek1: Im guessing by then I will have to separate him from some of my "smaller" fish like my Fu Manchu Lion and cardinal fish. I figure as he grows, the list of fish he can swallow also grows.

Right now Im kind of scared that he may eat my Green Spotted Puffer who is only about 3" or so. I saw the grouper checking him out tonight and I don't think he wanted a date! Or maybe that's exactly how he gets them...wine and dine ON them!

 

[Grouperhead]

Grouper will gorge until they physically cannot eat anymore if you let them . I would usually feed until I saw their stomach outlined with food bulges (might not of worded that good.) Go buy some fish from the local market to supplement the prawn. Feed once early (when lights first come on) and again about an hour before lights out (or anytime later in the day.) You can even get him onto a schedule if you feed him at these times consistently. I've only kept bluelines and vtails, but I've never had them refuse any kind of meaty food. Clams, squid, krill, silversides, smelt, etc. was all taken with relish. They both really liked large mysis shrimp, a lot.

 

[budbreak96]

Dude enough is enough..Im getting ****ed now. I want pics. Email them from your phone to your email and POST them. Im also a grouper head. I had a argus, wanted a minautus but i have a marron and gold clown and was told they will kill anything the same color as them. Im now waiting for a panther to come in. The argus just stayed hid in the rock all the time and would only come out when it was time to eat. He also sucked up half of a damsel and spit it back out or couldnt swallow it (i didnt see it happen) I have been told that the panther will stay out in the open and swim. They arent really rock huggers. I sure hope so.
NOW GET THEM PICS UP ASAP.

 

[Snapper66]

:eek2: You May Want to Try to Get your more Expensive Fish in Another Tank if Possible.A 10 Inch Grouper is Like a Hungry Lion among Sheep.Your Puffer Should be okay Groupers sometimes seem to Know when Not To Eat certain Fish.When I put My Groupers in my 135 Gallon My 3 Damsels Strangely Dissappeared .I Suspect Possible Alien Abduction or Global Warming:lol: :lol: .Groupers are Certainly Pigs with Fins,but they Dont Compare to the Greed of Red Emperour Snappers Truly the Greedy of the Greedy.:lol:

 

[sunfishh]

Great narrative justinpsmith. I can honestly feel your excitement jumping off my screen. As things change in the 130 keep the story going

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13441410#post13441410 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sunfishh
Great narrative justinpsmith. I can honestly feel your excitement jumping off my screen. As things change in the 130 keep the story going

Thanks!

The problem is that I am going to get the pics up soon but I don't know if this poor guy can live up to the hype anymore! I think it's too easy for a big let down now because there has been so much talk.

I am going to start a picture thread as soon as I can get them off my camera because I have pics from many months now.

:lol:

 

[LisaD]

Justin, you always take great pictures, and besides, us predator geeks will appreciate him. I ended up keeping my black tip grouper because I couldn't find a home for him, and he's turned out to be a fish I really enjoy. He's not the flashiest fish, but he has nice patterns and colors, very cool eyes. He's gotten braver over time, and hovers at the front of the tank, begging for food.