[B]GROUPER QUESTION[/B]

[craigj]

I am going to purchase a 3" blue-spotted grouper in the near future and have some questions for you grouper experts(specifally you grouperhead). First of all, the tank has a 1.5" neon velvet damsel and a 2" strawberry pseudochromis/dottyback in there right now. Should I take them out for sure? I was planning on taking the pseudo out but catching the stupid damsel will be a trick. Also, what should I feed this grouper, how much should I feed him, and how often should I feed him?

 

[grouperhead]

take out both of them. as for feeding he will eat squid, krill, shrimp, silversides, any other meaty foods. feed daily. groupers will gorge themselves on food if given the chance, then they will just sit around on the bottom and not move for several days. i would feed just enough until you see its stomach start to bulge a little, or until you think hes had enough. since your tank is g i would only get one more fish in there, and get a smaller predatory fish like an eel that doesnt take up much space since they dont swim around and take up as much room as other fish. bo

 

[saltwater4me]

Ya, I agree with grouperhead take out your fish or don't get the grouper, because the grouper can eat it. You can feed the grouper frozen foods, and live food. He will not eat flakes at all.

 

[grouperhead]

craig, are you planning on keeping your grouper in here for its whole life, or are you gonna trade him back or somethin when he gets larger. if you are gonna keep him for his life you may not be able to get another fish. bo

 

[craigj]

I don't know if I said this before, but I plan on getting rid of him (selling back or taking to aquarium) when he is around 8 inches. How long you think it'll take him to grow 5 inches?

 

[grouperhead]

how big is he now? im really not sure of the growth rate on blue dots, but most groupers grow at a pretty good rate. you could have a 3" cut little panther turn into a 12" monster in less than a year if given the right care, food, etc. for it to grow 8 inches id say depending on size around 2-2.5, if someone can correct me on this, please do. bo

 

[grouperhead]

oh, saw that hes 3". id say around 1.5-2 years to hit 8". bo
ps, i saw the biggest clown trigger i have ever seen in person today. my lfs just got one in that was seriously around 16-18". the thing was absolutley huge! they were holding it for someone who bought it for 220 (ouch!).

 

[tonga]

yeah, i'm not sure if you have ever seen them diving or at public aquariums, but they are gigantic and have been known to attack divers