Compatibility

[Guynamedfish]

So I’m really fixed on stocking my tank with a vtail grouper it is a 75 and I know it says 180 but I keep hearing that it’s ok so what tankmates could I put for him

 

[blaxsun]

They can get up to 11" in size, so no - not really. Basically anything he can't fit in his mouth. If you're limited to 75 gallons I'd probably choose a different fish.

 

[fishski13]

So I’m really fixed on stocking my tank with a vtail grouper it is a 75 and I know it says 180 but I keep hearing that it’s ok so what tankmates could I put for him

Yeah that tank isn't big enough for a fish of that size. Since you can only mix other big fish with him that are as aggressive you can't really have that big of fish in a 75. On top of that with bigger fish comes heavier bio load which means higher nitrates and maintenance, which results in lower water quality.

 

[davidcalgary29]

That's two cautions, and I'll add a third! I wouldn't get that type of grouper unless I had a six-foot tank. And large, aggressive tankmates. If you really want a member of the family truly suitable for a home aquarium, get a chalk bass. It's got the look and temperment of one of its larger relatives without the size and risk of one.

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

The grouper will not be OK in there long term. It will get up to a foot in length, and has a massive bioload due to how much it eats. You could keep it in there until it reached about 7 inches, but at that point it would become stressed and the filtration will be overrun with waste. I second the chalk bass, you get all the behavior and looks of a grouper in a 3-4" fish.