What species do you think this is?

[PhishMonger84]

Louti Grouper (Variola Louti)

Origin: Indo PacificReef Compatibility: NoCare Level: ModerateDiet: Carnivore, Feeder FishTemperament: Semi-AggressiveApprox Size: Sm: 3.0" - 3.5", Md: 3.5" - 5.5", Lg: 5.5" - 7.0"

reefbeauties.com

I see a common name and scientific name and they dont match

 

[blaxsun]

It's a seabass (maybe even ill-tempered).

 

[PhishMonger84]

lol- yes, aware it is a grouper/bass/hind ect.

but wondering if its cephalopholis miniatus or variola louti- very diff max size on these two

 

[X-37B]

Cephalopholis miniata, also known as the coral grouper, coral hind, coral rock cod, coral cod, coral trout, round-tailed trout or vermillion seabass is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is in the family Serranidae which also includes the anthias and sea basses.

 

[blaxsun]

also includes the anthias and sea basses.

Even ill-tempered sea bass.

 

[X-37B]

The pic look like a miniatus and they will uproot overturn everything in you tank.
They can be agressive and will eat anything but you probably know that.
I have had them years ago and you need as big of a tank as you can get, imo.

Anyway big fish are cool. Making me want a 220 fowler, lol.

 

[PhishMonger84]

Have you ever heard louti used as a common name for miniatus? louti groupers tend to be cheaper and get huuuuge.

Love the fishes, care less about coral

 

[KrisReef]

Louti Grouper (Variola Louti)

Origin: Indo PacificReef Compatibility: NoCare Level: ModerateDiet: Carnivore, Feeder FishTemperament: Semi-AggressiveApprox Size: Sm: 3.0" - 3.5", Md: 3.5" - 5.5", Lg: 5.5" - 7.0"

reefbeauties.com

I see a common name and scientific name and they dont match

I don't know but I think we used to call these Miniatus grouper?

They were fun to feed goldfish, vigorously gulping them as fast as they could.

 

[KrisReef]

I think Louti is a different fish

 

[PhishMonger84]

yes but they look similiar except the tails

 

[X-37B]

Have you ever heard louti used as a common name for miniatus? louti groupers tend to be cheaper and get huuuuge.

Love the fishes, care less about coral

No but its been awhile. I saw a miniatus a few weeks ago at a lfs.
The color is what really stands out.
Much more vibrant than a typical Louti.
Also most miniatus have blue dots.

 

[dennis romano]

I have had both fish. The fish in the initial post is a miniatus grouper, not a louti. They are a more bulky fish than the louti. They really don't change coloration all that often. They are a cherry red with electric blue dots. The Variola louti is built more for speed and the colors change rapidly. Both get big with massive appetites.

 

[PhishMonger84]

Asked the seller they believe it’s variola albimarginata, so smaller than louti and larger than miniatus but very good looking

 

[dennis romano]

Asked the seller they believe it’s variola albimarginata, so smaller than louti and larger than miniatus but very good looking

Cool fish, but still a two foot long eating machine. I have seen groupers swallow prey more than half their length. It just takes a little longer to get down.

 

[PhishMonger84]

Yeah they remind me of some of the freshwater fish I’ve kept- peacock bass, dovii, umbee, Oscar’s, tiger shovelnose

 

[vetteguy53081]

Definitely a miniatus thats gets big and stays as red as you see it often with defined blue dots. I sold many at my LFS

 

[PhishMonger84]

Definitely a miniatus thats gets big and stays as red as you see it often with defined blue dots. I sold many at my LFS

Seller says it’s variola albimarginata. Which is actually bigger than a miniatus.

I kept a miniatus before, pretty fish but more of a lunker & a lurker than I like

 

[dennis romano]

Yeah they remind me of some of the freshwater fish I’ve kept- peacock bass, dovii, umbee, Oscar’s, tiger shovelnose

Dovii and Umbies!!! Cool. I wouldn't want to put my hand in their tank. A local shop just got in a pair of Managuense, one about 12inches the other about 10. No wonder that you want the groupers.

 

[PhishMonger84]

Dovii and Umbies!!! Cool. I wouldn't want to put my hand in their tank. A local shop just got in a pair of Managuense, one about 12inches the other about 10. No wonder that you want the groupers.

Yeah… my freshwater tanks are all bruisers.

My wild male umbee is about 3 yrs old and 16” long, 2” wide and 5” tall. And is always glass banging- he hates my cat and she knows it.

Dovii are boring IMHO- jags are awesome. Largest I ever had was a 14” golden morph male

The tank sizes suggested in saltwater always throw me off as I always aim for the tanks width to be no less the terminal length of the fish, ideally a little bigger and tank length to be 4-6x times the length of the fish

 

[dennis romano]

Yeah… my freshwater tanks are all bruisers.

My wild male umbee is about 3 yrs old and 16” long, 2” wide and 5” tall. And is always glass banging- he hates my cat and she knows it.

Dovii are boring IMHO- jags are awesome. Largest I ever had was a 14” golden morph male

The tank sizes suggested in saltwater always throw me off as I always aim for the tanks width to be no less the terminal length of the fish, ideally a little bigger and tank length to be 4-6x times the length of the fish

Got a pic of the umbee? Hate to see the food bill. Way back in the 1980's, I picked up a louti, a Coney grouper, miniatus and blue cod grouper, all between 2 and 3 inches and threw them in a 125. All got in excess of ten inches. One day, I couldn't find the miniatus. The 14 inch cod had the miniatus tail sticking out of his mouth. Had to get the cod out of there with a trout net, normal net wouldn't work.