Groupers

[NovaSS]

Im looking to add a new fish to my 96x48x36 tank. I was thinking grouper as Im planing for a shark and already have a volition lion, blue hippo tang and naso tang. Is there any active groupers? I know there almost always hanging out in the rock or other structures. At my local store they have a blue dot grouper, orange/redish miniatus grouper, yellow miniatus grouper, two black groupers with white dots that he says is blue spot groupers. But i dont think so. they also have panther groupers, but not really a fan of there looks.

What do you recommend and why?

 

[dawn0506]

We have a golden miniatus. He's absolutely gorgeous but doesn't come out much. We put a dark background on the tank and he seems to come out more now. Most groupers are not swimmers though.

 

[chilwil84]

panthers do swim all over but they arent appropriate for most tanks due to their size potential. blue line (Cephalopholis formosa) tend to be more active than miniatus

 

[kv2wr1]

We have a golden miniatus. He's absolutely gorgeous but doesn't come out much. We put a dark background on the tank and he seems to come out more now. Most groupers are not swimmers though.

Golden miniatus? That sounds like a sweet looking fish. Do you have any pics?

 

[anbosu]

My miniatus was pretty visible when I had it, although I only had it with a six line soapfish and two eels.

 

[NovaSS]

I ended up getting the blue dot grouper from my research it only gets around 1' in a tank. The guy that owns the store was trying to say the one i picked was a miniatus grouper because it had lines on him towards the back and the blue dots he wanted $80 for the yellow, orange, and his so called blue miniatus groupers. I picked up the book he had on the counter and flipped it to the blue dot grouper it looked exactly the same. lol then I showed him the white speckled/dot grouper he was trying to sell as the blue dot. It took him about 10 mins before he admitted I was right.

right now he has been swimming around the rocks in the back. if I can get out for a pic later Ill post it.

 

[NovaSS]

 

[griseum]

That definitely looks like Cephalopholis argus. What does the back half look like? Is it similar to the front half, or is it a bright yellow?

A miniatus is a miniatus, don't think they ever come in anything other than shades of orange/red/burgundy. Never Blue lol.
Its shade of red/orange may possibly change with diet especially krill and color enhancing supplements or prepared fish foods.

The black fish with white spots/speckles is a great little (relatively speaking) grouper, Epinephelus ongus or E. summana, both are mis-identified often, more often than not it is an E. ongus, but sometimes they are called E. summana.
A google Image search will show both fish under both names.
I have an E. ongus, and its no longer than 6-7 inches after 3 years in the shark pond. A smaller fish from the Epinephelus genus, it is out often and is quite beautiful in its monochrome coloration.

The only other little grouper I would have suggested is the Harlequin/Polleni grouper. Beautiful and more often than not a great personality after a few days/weeks in the tank. Can become a bit more than a foot in length and are a bit more costly.

Good luck with your new Grouper! I've always had a soft-spot for them. They are genuine pets and IMO possess a more profound intelligence. They learn very quickly. Have had many great groupers in the past.
Good Luck!

 

[NovaSS]

Its cool he can change his color fast went he/she is in the light he turns a light color and when in the shadows he turns dark blue

 

[Cu455]

That's pretty cool. I like his light colored pattern. My miniatus does the opposites. It becomes a light color in his cave. When he comes out his colors darkens up but become more vibrant.

Does he perch on his pectoral fins? It kind of looks like it in the pictures.

 

[NovaSS]

That's pretty cool. I like his light colored pattern. My miniatus does the opposites. It becomes a light color in his cave. When he comes out his colors darkens up but become more vibrant.

Does he perch on his pectoral fins? It kind of looks like it in the pictures.

He kinda acts like the lionfish. He will stand around like in the bottom pic and he will sit vertical in on the side of rocks sometimes. Im amazed at how fast he is and his movement threw the rocks at full speed during feeding time. I only seen him going for the cleaner shrimp the 2 day after getting him. Now he will open his mouth and let the cleaner do dental work. Im sure if im ever late on feeding I might me missing a cleaner. Other then that he is a very cool fish. I feed him diffrent frozen foods every other day the same as i feed the lion.

 

[griseum]

Wow. Gorgeous!

 

[Cu455]

That's awesome with the shrimp. I think I might go out and buy one for my grouper.