Grouper getting aggressive

hrdneglcry · Jun 19, 2023

I have a V Tail Grouper that I have had for awhile now. He is mostly by himself in a 120. I have two eels that mostly hide and he bullys them back into their caves when they come out. Thats not the issue. He has recently started riling himself up attacking sand, water and just getting riled up. He gets himself breathing rapidly. This subsides and he calms down. Is this normal for a Grouper? I habe had an Argus Grouper thay did not behave like this.

sc50964 · Jun 19, 2023

How does he attack sand and water?? It sounds like he could be sick and what you are seeing is his attempt to get rid of something. Breathing hard is another indication of health issue.

hrdneglcry · Jun 19, 2023

Yes for a minute I thought he had flukes. He lunges at the sand and makes lunges in the water. The he darts aggressively. I was going to treat him but the breathing got regular again and he calmed down.

sc50964 · Jun 19, 2023

hrdneglcry said:
Yes for a minute I thought he had flukes. He lunges at the sand and makes lunges in the water. The he darts aggressively. I was going to treat him but the breathing got regular again and he calmed down.

Maybe the calm down phase was because the fluke eggs have not hatched yet?

I think it is more likely for him to be sick than having another reason to behave this way.

hrdneglcry · Jun 21, 2023

sc50964 said:
Maybe the calm down phase was because the fluke eggs have not hatched yet?

I think it is more likely for him to be sick than having another reason to behave this way.

Here is one thing. I have alot of rocks in the tank. I have too many rocks. Right now I cannot change that because I have aiptasia and I have Berghia in the tank so I can't temove rocks. I can risk killing Berghia. So this grouper has grown. Part of the problem maybe that he feels crowded. I am a bit at a loss. Sometimes he breathes rapidly. Sometimes hes completely calm. In the same day. Hours apart only. So I am not sure. Hes not scratching. He has no I could. I did buy prazi today just in case. But I don't know for sure.