Grouper ID...no pic yet though

[JustinReef]

And two minutes later Im confused again...

Whats the difference between Variola louti and Variola albimarginata??? I get the same pics when searching for these species.

Regardless it is the same as the one in the pic above!

 

[JustinReef]

He is so amazing to watch!

Already "king" of the tank! He is not aggressive in any way but when he swims, everyone gets out of the way. The only fish that goes near him is my Niger trigger. It almost looks like the trigger is in love. LOL. He just stares at him but from right up close. And the Gropuer just kind of stares back as if hes used to it and can't be bothered to move. Its great. He has added so much color to the tank.

My cleaner wrasse was all the way inside his mouth just now too. I have to try to get a pick of that some day!

 

[Grouperhead]

V. louti gets larger than V. albimarginata and albimarginata will have an almost full red tail with only a white trim, louti will have a lot of yellow on the tail and on the back of the dorsal/anal fin. HTH

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13380487#post13380487 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grouperhead
V. louti gets larger than V. albimarginata and albimarginata will have an almost full red tail with only a white trim, louti will have a lot of yellow on the tail and on the back of the dorsal/anal fin. HTH

Ok mine has the white trim for sure. I thought it was just new growth or something and would go yellow But now that I look closer its quite a distinct white trim. So....

I think V. albimarginata then. Man I have to get pics up! I will go look for the USB cord now...

 

[JustinReef]

Thanks Grouperhead!

Your description has made me look closer and realize they do have some differences. Its the little things. I was not looking close enough.

 

[Grouperhead]

No problem. Love groupers (if the name didn't give it away) - v. albimarginata was the first one I ever remember seeing at the LFS. Fell in love after that, lol. Bluelines and albimarginata are my favorite species...both tend to be a little more active than some others. Can't wait to see some pics, your tank always looks really nice.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13380946#post13380946 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grouperhead
No problem. Love groupers (if the name didn't give it away) - v. albimarginata was the first one I ever remember seeing at the LFS. Fell in love after that, lol. Bluelines and albimarginata are my favorite species...both tend to be a little more active than some others. Can't wait to see some pics, your tank always looks really nice.

Thanks!

Im actually really amazed by how active he is. He seems to lay around for about 5 minutes and then cruise the tank for a minute and then back to laying down. But he's up and about constantly. Im very happy about this.

My tank is a soft coral reef, so I don't like posting it here but I will since it is aggressive fish! I always feel more at home here in this forum and like people here will appreciate the fish way more.

Besides to most of the people in the reef forum my reef is not a "real" reef. LOL. I was told on a few occasions "oh your tank looks great and you obviously know what your doing...you should move away from the beginner corals now and get some sps..."

I hate that term..."beginner corals". I prefer softies.

 

[Grouperhead]

I like softies too...my 20g is all soft.

Agree about the people on this board...feel like there is a really great group here and everyone has real good input and experience. I'm still learning new stuff here all the time.

 

[JustinReef]

Whoa! What have I gotten myself into with this guy

In QT I fed him lightly because for one he was not very active and two the filtration was not great. Now that he is in the display and very active/happy, I thought I would see just how much this guy can eat...

It's insane! He SWALLOWED a whole prawn. No bites or nibbles, but just swallowed the whole thing. And not a little prawn. A decent sized Tiger prawn. I dropped it on one side of the tank and as my puffers went to take a bite, he shot across the tank and swallowed it as he turned around and went back to the other side.

Amazing.

I am so in love with this fish!

I then fed the rest of the guys smaller pieces of prawn and he was still eating. He ate and ate and ate. He is still looking at me from across the room and I think would eat more if I fed.

Is he a bottomless pit?????????

 

[JustinReef]

I just had to measure the prawns

3" and quite thick...thats about what he swallowed. Shell and all (no tail or legs).

Craziness!


So do they eat shrimp and crabs then? I don't have any so I will not find out in my tank but are they considered non reef safe?

 

[billsreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13384985#post13384985 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by justinpsmith
Is he a bottomless pit?????????

That's a grouper for you They'll eat you out of house and home :lol:

BTW, yes they will eat shrimps and crabs with gusto

 

[T-T-Trigger]

lol..... awesomenessity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


yes CORAL SAFE, not invert safe (obviously) hermits probably yes ok, soft shell crabs definitely no, shrimp... why bother trying?

oh and BTW,


WE NEED PICS
WE WANT PICS

etc...

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13385178#post13385178 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by billsreef
That's a grouper for you They'll eat you out of house and home :lol:

BTW, yes they will eat shrimps and crabs with gusto

Yeah I figured. Seems I only pick fish that will

Groupers mouths really do look like they are just made to eat!

He "stretched" or yawned his mouth just now and it was amazing how big that thing is.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13385185#post13385185 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by T-T-Trigger
lol..... awesomenessity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


yes CORAL SAFE, not invert safe (obviously) hermits probably yes ok, soft shell crabs definitely no, shrimp... why bother trying?

oh and BTW,


WE NEED PICS
WE WANT PICS

etc...

I know!!!!! Pics!!!!!!!

I have no way of getting them off my phone and my fiance is still away with the camera. She is back monday and I promise either monday night or Tuesday morning there will be LOTS of pics. Trust me Im so anxious to show him off!

 

[T-T-Trigger]

very OT, but http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/


this is a very nice FREE program. converts my cell (3gp) vids, rips mp3 from youtube, downloads youtube video, and much more (cell phone tasks mostly)


i have used it alot recently.

actually much nicer to rip mp3 from youtube than going to any shareware sites.

 

[WuHT]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13375476#post13375476 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by justinpsmith
Actually the LFS I got him from had no idea what to label him as. They said they had never had one like him before. They had him for about a month before I got him. I have had him about a month also. Hes doing great but I want him out of the 90G.

The LFS didn't know what to sell him for so just went with $29 to get him out of the store.

speaking of LFS..which one did you get him at ?

 

[Grouperhead]

I've kept bluelines and v tail groupers with hermits and large cb shrimp that were already in the tank when the grouper came in. Wouldn't trust them with cleaners or small shrimp...emerald or sally crabs would be more likely to survive.

They will literally eat until they can eat no more. I usually would feed several small pieces of shrimp or fish once a day...don't make them stuffed or they'll just lay there until tomorrow when you feed again.

 

[predator 1]

That Grouper is a "Plectropomus Maculatus" Justin. I have one in my system. It destroyed two "Sphyraena" Barracuda as soon as I introduced them into his domain!!!! They are truly ferocious.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13394142#post13394142 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by predator 1
That Grouper is a "Plectropomus Maculatus" Justin. I have one in my system. It destroyed two "Sphyraena" Barracuda as soon as I introduced them into his domain!!!! They are truly ferocious.

No it is not. Did you happen to read any of the thread before you wrote this?

 

[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.