travelerjp98
Active Member
The Panther Grouper, cromileptes altivelis, also known has the humpback grouper, is a very large and impressive fish that makes an excellent center fish in a large predatory tank.
Panther Grouper at about 1 year old.
They are particularly known for their unique polka-dot color pattern. As the Panther Grouper grows older, this color pattern gets duller. It often seems that adult fish have several, smaller polka-dots while younger fish have fewer, but larger, polka-dots. When frightened, dark brown blotches may appear on the Panther Grouper to help camouflage it. The Panther Grouper’s fins are also noteworthy, as they are very large and elongated.
Panther Groupers are unique swimmers, because it almost seems that they are “dancing” as they swim. Their color pattern and long fins make the dancing effect even more apparent.
Panther Groupers should be kept in a tank no smaller than 200 gallons. They get to grow to be 26”. As adults, they tend to be aggressive. They thrive in tanks that have a pH of 8.1-8.3, a temperature of 72-78° F, and a specific gravity of 1.021-1.023. This fish originates from the Indo-Pacific region of the world. In the wild, they are found in cracks and crevices in and around reefs. They are not known to have ever bred in captivity.
The diet for the Panther Grouper needs to be meaty, as it is a carnivorous fish. Good choices of food for the Panther Grouper include fish filets, shrimp, squid, prawns, silversides, krill, mussles, clams, and scallops. Panther Groupers, or any predatory saltwater fish for that matter, should not be fed freshwater feeder fish. This is because first of all, the large skeletons of the feeder fish may get stuck in the throat of the Panther Grouper, thereby choking it. Second, freshwater feeder fish lack several nutrients that Panther Groupers need, resulting in a compromised immune system and poor health. Finally, freshwater feeder fish contain too many of the wrong fats for Panther Groupers, so they may develop diseases such as fatty-liver disease.
Tank Mates for Panther Groupers need to be larger than the mouth of the Panther Grouper, so they do not fall to be prey to it, and they also need to be fast in order to be able to compete with the Panther Grouper for food. Tank Mates for the Panther Grouper include some Tangs, Wrasses, Angelfish, Triggerfish, Eels, Sharks, and Lionfish. The Panther Grouper is a predator of smaller fish and some ornamental invertebrates, so caution should be executed there.
If given the proper environment, a Panther Grouper really makes a stunning tank inhabitant.
Panther Grouper at about 1 year old.
They are particularly known for their unique polka-dot color pattern. As the Panther Grouper grows older, this color pattern gets duller. It often seems that adult fish have several, smaller polka-dots while younger fish have fewer, but larger, polka-dots. When frightened, dark brown blotches may appear on the Panther Grouper to help camouflage it. The Panther Grouper’s fins are also noteworthy, as they are very large and elongated.
Panther Groupers are unique swimmers, because it almost seems that they are “dancing” as they swim. Their color pattern and long fins make the dancing effect even more apparent.
Panther Groupers should be kept in a tank no smaller than 200 gallons. They get to grow to be 26”. As adults, they tend to be aggressive. They thrive in tanks that have a pH of 8.1-8.3, a temperature of 72-78° F, and a specific gravity of 1.021-1.023. This fish originates from the Indo-Pacific region of the world. In the wild, they are found in cracks and crevices in and around reefs. They are not known to have ever bred in captivity.
The diet for the Panther Grouper needs to be meaty, as it is a carnivorous fish. Good choices of food for the Panther Grouper include fish filets, shrimp, squid, prawns, silversides, krill, mussles, clams, and scallops. Panther Groupers, or any predatory saltwater fish for that matter, should not be fed freshwater feeder fish. This is because first of all, the large skeletons of the feeder fish may get stuck in the throat of the Panther Grouper, thereby choking it. Second, freshwater feeder fish lack several nutrients that Panther Groupers need, resulting in a compromised immune system and poor health. Finally, freshwater feeder fish contain too many of the wrong fats for Panther Groupers, so they may develop diseases such as fatty-liver disease.
Tank Mates for Panther Groupers need to be larger than the mouth of the Panther Grouper, so they do not fall to be prey to it, and they also need to be fast in order to be able to compete with the Panther Grouper for food. Tank Mates for the Panther Grouper include some Tangs, Wrasses, Angelfish, Triggerfish, Eels, Sharks, and Lionfish. The Panther Grouper is a predator of smaller fish and some ornamental invertebrates, so caution should be executed there.
If given the proper environment, a Panther Grouper really makes a stunning tank inhabitant.
