Panther Grouper (Asia Pacific)
Groupers are large fish that make incredible display animals in the right aquarium. They get along well with other large-bodied fishes as long as they don't enter its cave, but will greedily swallow whole any small or slender fish as well as shrimp and crabs. They do not harm corals, but may knock over small decor with their strong tails. They are best kept singly in all but the largest of aquaria, and then they should be of different species and added at the same time. Each grouper will require at least one large cave to call its own. It may spend most of its time there, especially when newly introduced. In time they may become real pets and recognize their owner.
Groupers are slow moving ambush predators that feed by sucking in their food whole into their enormous mouths. They are carnivores and should be fed at least once every two or three days a high quality diet of krill, silversides and chopped seafood. They are heavy feeders and thus strong filtration is necessary.
Like a loyal Dalmatian, the Panther grouper will become your favorite pet with spots. As a juvenile it is snowy white with large jet black polka-dots covering its whole body. When mature it becomes a more creamy grey and its black spots become smaller and more numerous. A few larger blotches of darker grey appear as well. Large individuals have a small head and a strongly arched nape, and are also known as the Humpback grouper. Males and females are visually identical. It grows to 27 inches; we recommend an aquarium of at least 225 gallons.
