watertight
Member
In the process of buying a 240 with a beautiful Miniatus Grouper in it, really wanted to know what the average life expectancy would be? Anyone got any ball park figures?
How long should a Grouper live?
- Thread starter watertight
- Start date
aquaknight
Active Member
Well over 20 years, probably 30 if conditions stay right.
hammerhed7
Active Member
Agreed 20 yrs is possible with proper diet (no freshwater feeders) groupers are great fish with a ton of personality, but the only down side to them is aggression, many times you are not able to keep many other fish with them, even if the grouper is not aggressive towards tank mates, it will be a very aggressive eater, and the others may have a hard time getting their share of the chow.
watertight
Member
Yeah, he's an awesome fish, I'm picking up the whole tank tomorrow. He's sharing the tank with a small lion fish and a blue crayfish. They have all been together quite a while now, I think the grouper's about 8 years old. I had a thread going about it earlier, with a lot of questions, but maybe too many? No-one answered! There's a divider in the tank, and on the other side there's a few smaller fish, Harlequin tuskfish, a sand sifting goby, a tomato clown and a couple of others. I think I'll house them all in my spare 55 gal tank and give the cod (In Australia we call groupers Coral cod), lion and cray the 240 to themselves. Thanks for your help!
sc0rp_xiii
Member
I would add the tusk to the 240 as well if he is large enough not to become grouper food. I have seen pics of them eating large (20"+) eels so watch out as anything is potential food to them.
watertight
Member
The guy I bought the tank off originally bought the harlequin to put in with the grouper and lion, but he was getting beaten up by the grouper. A pity, because he's probably a bit big for the 55 but not big or mean enough to live with the "Big boys", in the 240. Maybe I can try him in there again if he grows a bit....
We've made the move, everythings looking good, apart from the grouper not eating yet. I think he's just a little bit p@##ed off at being moved. I'll try him again tomorrow
We've made the move, everythings looking good, apart from the grouper not eating yet. I think he's just a little bit p@##ed off at being moved. I'll try him again tomorrow
mach03infront
Member
lets see some pictures!
watertight
Member
240 gal tank -
http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/chuggstas/
55 gal tank -
http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/e...tas/communal1/
At the moment I'm debating whether to leave the 2 tanks seperate or put the divider back in the 240 and put it back the way it was. 5' x 2' x 2' for the lion and grouper and 3' x 2' x 2' for the smaller fish. That's the way the guy who had the tank had it set up. There's pro's and cons either way, but the small fish would have more space in the 240, I'd have more rock in there, more active tank, spare 55 available for qt, cheaper power bill, etc.
On the other hand keeping them seperate would probably let me find a nice eel or something and put in there, or maybe even a compatible fish? There is a cray I can have that was originally in the big tank, but He's being treated for a disease atm and I don't know if/when he will pull through...
Any thoughts/advice? At the end of the day I want to do what's best for the fish...
http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/chuggstas/
55 gal tank -
http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/e...tas/communal1/
At the moment I'm debating whether to leave the 2 tanks seperate or put the divider back in the 240 and put it back the way it was. 5' x 2' x 2' for the lion and grouper and 3' x 2' x 2' for the smaller fish. That's the way the guy who had the tank had it set up. There's pro's and cons either way, but the small fish would have more space in the 240, I'd have more rock in there, more active tank, spare 55 available for qt, cheaper power bill, etc.
On the other hand keeping them seperate would probably let me find a nice eel or something and put in there, or maybe even a compatible fish? There is a cray I can have that was originally in the big tank, but He's being treated for a disease atm and I don't know if/when he will pull through...
Any thoughts/advice? At the end of the day I want to do what's best for the fish...
watertight
Member
I've already done the move, they've been here now for 2 days. Lion is eating but grouper isn't. His original owner is coming over tonight to try and get him eating. Sounds strange, but He does seem to recognise familiar ppl. I'll ask him about his thoughts on the harlequin. I'd really like to see it in a bigger tank, and it would look good in there as well. I just don't want to see it get ripped to bits! Trouble is the grouper and lion have been in there 2 days now and plobably already claimed their territory. And I'm not taking them out again!!!
watertight
Member
He's real aggressive atm. He charges my fingers if I put them up to the tank. His previous owner could put his hand in and pat him, so I'm thinking He might not be in the mood for a new tankmate? I'll see how he goes tonight...
hammerhed7
Active Member
fantastic looking grouper
lion looks huge as well
watertight
Member
Thanks, he is an awesome fish. I still can't believe the personality he's got. His colour changes are awesome too, last night he was sitting against the bottom and he was almost pure white. Then he swam off and became bright orange again. He's even swimming up to my fingers now and rubbing himself against them!
He's still not eating tho, and the lion isn't either atm...Lion ate a bit Sunday night, but the grouper hasn't eaten since the move. Both seem happy enough tho, so I'm not panicking just yet.
We temporarily put the divider in the 240 last night and put the HT in one end of the tank, to see what happens. Grouper was straight onto it, like a dog barking at another one through a fence! Seems to have slowed down a bit now, but I still don't hold out much hope of grouper and HT living peacefully together...
He's still not eating tho, and the lion isn't either atm...Lion ate a bit Sunday night, but the grouper hasn't eaten since the move. Both seem happy enough tho, so I'm not panicking just yet.
We temporarily put the divider in the 240 last night and put the HT in one end of the tank, to see what happens. Grouper was straight onto it, like a dog barking at another one through a fence! Seems to have slowed down a bit now, but I still don't hold out much hope of grouper and HT living peacefully together...