Grouper ID

[clownfish.mike]

Hi all, I didn’t know if it would be better to post here or the actual ID forum but it seems more so for hitchhikers so I posted here. If it needs to be moved that’s fine.

Anyway, this is being sold as a banded yellow fin grouper with no scientific name. It is around 4 inches in length. I do not know where it was collected unfortunately. Google lens seems to think it looks closest to Saloptia powelli, the golden grouper. I couldn’t find any juvenile pictures of that fish so not completely sure. I suspect it may be some sort of Cephalopholis species. If anyone would be able to give an ID that would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like a yellow snapper and can even be a young golden basslet

 

[dennis romano]

That is a juvenile Cephalopholis cyanostigma. As they grow, they change color dramatically. They get to about 20 inches.

 

[clownfish.mike]

That is a juvenile Cephalopholis cyanostigma. As they grow, they change color dramatically. They get to about 20 inches.

Thanks. I figured it would likely not keep its colors and go through a change. There doesn’t seem to be many pictures of juvenile groupers. Of the ones I found it describes the cyanostigma as being brown with yellow fins. Is there a reason you suspect cyanostigma when the one I posted is pink?

 

[dennis romano]

The fish in your picture is showing a stress pattern, marbling. There are only two groupers with yellow fins like in the picture, juvenile cyanostigma and the blue cod Epinephelius flavocaeruleus. I had a blue cod and just so happened to have seen one at the LFS yesterday. The cod is a stockier fish and doesn't have as much yellow encroaching into the body. Basically, both fish are eating machines.

 

[clownfish.mike]

The fish in your picture is showing a stress pattern, marbling. There are only two groupers with yellow fins like in the picture, juvenile cyanostigma and the blue cod Epinephelius flavocaeruleus. I had a blue cod and just so happened to have seen one at the LFS yesterday. The cod is a stockier fish and doesn't have as much yellow encroaching into the body. Basically, both fish are eating machines.

Ah okay, thank you for explanation I appreciate it.

 

[nereefpat]

For sure, a grouper and definitely not a snapper of any kind. Look at that mouth; seabass (grouper) all the way.

I'm not the best at IDing groupers. I would assume anything that isn't a v-tail to get very big. Blue spot is a great fish. The one I took care of was long past the 4" mark by the time I saw it, so I didn't see it as a juvie.