Fish Index: Grouper

Showing posts with label Grouper. Show all posts

Comet Grouper (Calloplesiops altivelis)

The Comet Grouper or Calloplesiops altivelis is a popular aquarium fish that is sometimes referred to as the Marine Betta. This species comes from the Serranidae family of Sea Basses and Groupers which contains roughly 370 different species of saltwater fish.

Comet Groupers are small predatory fish that can grow to about 6" (150mm) in length and are found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They have a beautiful brown body with many small blue spots. They have a false eye at the end of their dorsal fin making it tricky for predators choose which end to attack. This species of Grouper has yet another trick up its fin... It tail has evolved to look much like the head of a dangerous predator, the moray eel and it said to warn off potential predators. You can check out the Marine Betta in action in the video below.

If you have any additional information about the Comet Grouper please leave us a comment below.

Panther Grouper (Cromileptes altivelis)

The Panther Grouper or Cromileptes altivelis is a large saltwater fish that should only be kept in an aquarium of 300 gallons or more. Growing to almost 2' long these Grouper are also called the Polka Dot Grouper because of the black polka dots that cover their bodies. In the wild the Panther Grouper uses its unique coloration to blend into the reefs and confuse potential predator like sharks.

These saltwater fish are carnivores that will pretty much eat any fish they can fit into their mouths. Watch out if you are thinking of keeping them with smaller fit, you might come up with a few missing. In an aquarium setting they can be fed feeder fish, small squid, krill and prawns. Water conditions of 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4 and sg 1.021-1.023 are perfectly acceptable.

Panther Groupers are notoriously hardy and can have an extended life time in which they grow rather quickly in the beginning. They are also quite social with their owners and have a funny way of swimming. This makes them a favorite among aquarium enthusiasts that have a large enough aquarium to house such a fish. To check out the Panther Grouper in action have a look at this video...

Goliath Grouper

There are two different kinds of Goliath Groupers the Atlantic Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) and the Pacific Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus quinquefasciatus). True to their name this type of Grouper can grow over 8' in length and can weigh in and at over 800lbs!. These saltwater fish are gray or brownish yellow with dark spots and found in warm shallow tropical waters around coral reefs normally less than 160 feet deep.

When they are young they can be found in brackish areas and mangrove swamps. At these shallow depths these slow growing fish can be quite easy although very exciting to try and spear. Even though some people may consider the Goliath Grouper to be a stupid giant the are actually quite intelligent. They produce a rumbling sound that comes from their swim bladder that helps them communicate with other Goliaths. Groupers are an endangered species due to overfishing and habitat change. To check out the Goliath Grouper in action watch the videos below...

Warsaw Grouper

The Warsaw Grouper or Epinephelus nigritus is no doubt a massive salt water fish. This monster can grow over 6' in length and weigh in at well over 350lbs. As you can imagine the Warsaw Grouper is a very popular sporting fish and frequently caught in areas from North Carolina to the Florida Keys. These type of Groupers are also found in the Gulf of Mexico and the northern coast of South America.

This fish most often caught in depths of 900 feet and above. Also known as the Black Jewfish or Black Grouper they are the only Grouper Fish with 10 dorsal spines. The second dorsal spine is always longer than the first. They have very large mouths in which they swallow their prey whole much like the Large Mouth Bass, but on a much bigger scale!