Smallest Grouper and Risks?

[Aspect]

Hello, I am researching what the smallest grouper available would be and what would be not safe to keep with it. From my research it seems the Coney grouper is the smallest that is available in the trade. Thanks for any help.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Hello, I am researching what the smallest grouper available would be and what would be not safe to keep with it. From my research it seems the Coney grouper is the smallest that is available in the trade. Thanks for any help.

Smallest I know is Cephalopholis urodeta, the flagtail/v-tail grouper, at 11 inches full grown (about 6" smaller than the max size for the coney). Basically anything small enough to be eaten is probably at risk.

For info on keeping and tankmates:

Section: Fish Library: Group: Groupers/Hinds: Species: Cephalopholis urodeta (Darkfin Hind, V-Tail Grouper)

Marine Aquarium Library: Groupers/Hinds, Cephalopholis, Cephalopholis urodeta

www.saltcorner.com

For where to buy:

Red V-Tail Grouper, Darkfin Hind - Cephalopholis urodeta

Red V-Tail Grouper (Cephalopholis urodelus) can also be known as Flag Tail Grouper and Banded Tail Sea Bass.

www.bluezooaquatics.com

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello, I am researching what the smallest grouper available would be and what would be not safe to keep with it. From my research it seems the Coney grouper is the smallest that is available in the trade. Thanks for any help.

Groupers in general grow fast, get large and will eat anything that will fit in their mouths and cant fit in their mouths

 

[Aspect]

Smallest I know is Cephalopholis urodeta, the flagtail/v-tail grouper, at 11 inches full grown (about 6" smaller than the max size for the coney). Basically anything small enough to be eaten is probably at risk.

For info on keeping and tankmates:

Section: Fish Library: Group: Groupers/Hinds: Species: Cephalopholis urodeta (Darkfin Hind, V-Tail Grouper)

Marine Aquarium Library: Groupers/Hinds, Cephalopholis, Cephalopholis urodeta

www.saltcorner.com

For where to buy:

Red V-Tail Grouper, Darkfin Hind - Cephalopholis urodeta

Red V-Tail Grouper (Cephalopholis urodelus) can also be known as Flag Tail Grouper and Banded Tail Sea Bass.

www.bluezooaquatics.com

I'm not sure if they are a true grouper but I'm recently looking at Marine Bettas or Comet Groupers. Maxing out at a little under 8".

 

[WheatToast]

Not a grouper, but basses belong to the same family (Serranidae) with the chalk bass (Serranus tortugarum) being a popular, reef-safe option.

 

[Aspect]

Not a grouper, but basses belong to the same family (Serranidae) with the chalk bass (Serranus tortugarum) being a popular, reef-safe option.

Are they cold water?

 

[Aspect]

Either way they'd end up shark food, those are a little too small.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

No groupers. They're aggressive and want the tank to themselves. Will attack or eat other fish. Predators for sure.
Added a minatus grouper to a 120g 4x2x2 once and it was a mistake.
D

 

[WheatToast]

Are they cold water?

Tropical, they’re found in the Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean region.

Either way they'd end up shark food, those are a little too small.

Some people have had them exceed 4 inches but they are generally sold at much smaller sizes.

 

[Eggs]

I'm not sure if they are a true grouper but I'm recently looking at Marine Bettas or Comet Groupers. Maxing out at a little under 8".

I’ve had a Marine Betta for around 5 years, about 5+ inches and has been a slow grower.
Lays low and doesn’t bother anything in the tank, doesn’t swim in the water column, basically stays in its own area.

 

[Aspect]

I’ve had a Marine Betta for around 5 years, about 5+ inches and has been a slow grower.
Lays low and doesn’t bother anything in the tank, doesn’t swim in the water column, basically stays in its own area.

5" presumably fully grown after 5 years?

 

[Eggs]

5" presumably fully grown after 5 years?

Possibly, not sure.
I’m thinking it was around 4” when I bought him.


I’m not sure how big they get but Hamlets I believe are in the bass-grouper family.
I’ve seen a couple of Indigo Hamlets on Divers Den in the past, they had nice coloring.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Possibly, not sure.
I’m thinking it was around 4” when I bought him.


I’m not sure how big they get but Hamlets I believe they are in the bass-grouper family.
I’ve seen a couple of Indigo Hamlets on Divers Den in the past, they had nice coloring.

Marine betta's are stated to get up to 8" full grown, Indigo hamlets are said to range from ~3-5.5". Blue Zoo occasionally carries Indigo, Black, Barred, and Butter hamlets (butter hitting 5", the others 5.5-6"), so I'd imagine an LFS could probably order from their distributors if someone wanted to buy one.

 

[sumtingbig]

All Groupers big or small all have huge mouths. Best kept with lions and ell's

 

[WheatToast]

I know this thread is nearly a year old, but I just wanted to mention that soapfishes are another example of small groupers.