Title: Miniata Grouper
Description: General Discription and Care
Description: General Discription and Care
Ritsuko Nashida - April 16, 2005 07:07 AM (GMT)
Scientific Name : Cephalopholis Miniata
Common Name : Coral Hind, Coral Grouper, Strawberry Grouper, Miniata Grouper
Distribution : Western Indo-Pacific
Diet : Meaty foods such as Fish and Crustacean Flesh. Feed 2-3 times a week.
Size : 40cm(16 inches)
Compatibility : Will eat all fish or ornamental shrimp small enough to be ingested.
Suitability : Easy
Minimum Tank Size : Adults will require a tank of 100 + gallons (379 liters)
Reef Safe : Reef Safe with Caution
Without a doubt one of the most vividly colored fish available to the saltwater enthusiast bar none! Its strikingly bright red coloration with yellow edged finnage that’s been accented with pearlecent blue spots really makes this species stand out in a most major kind of way. While not the most commonly available Grouper to the hobbyist it is however one of the better choices in this family of fish. While it will grow to a considerable size its at least a manageable size for the average hobbyist. It will require a fairly large tank with lots of Live Rock arranged to provide hiding spots especially under intense lighting in a tank containing corals. It will spend a lot of its time sulking in caves and over hangs in the rock work. But don’t worry it wont stay hidden all of the time. It’s a very active fish and will often strut about its tank. This fish in addition to its flashy colors has much character about it. It is however an aggressive fish and should only be kept with other similarly sized aggressive fish. It’s recommended that this fish be kept singly in an aquarium, as it will brutally battle, often to the death, with conspecifics unless it’s a mated pair. Sexing of individual fish is very difficult. Breeding in captivity is possible in exceptionally large tanks if a mated pair can be obtained. Few if any of the off spring will survive unless they can be removed from the tank. Recommended tank mates are Triggers, Groupers (different species), Parrot Fish, larger Eels and larger species of Lion Fish. As with all large “Aggressive” fish, the tank will require a large capacity filtration system to eliminate waste and maintain water quality. A Protein Skimmer somewhat over sized for the tank is most highly recommended as well. Feeding is rarely ever a problem for this species, as it will most greedily devour anything that will fit inside its cavernous mouth with little or no hesitation. Recommended foods are thawed frozen shrimp, cut ocean fish, small whole fish and crabs. To maintain its vibrant colors it is important that it be feed a wide variety of food items and its also helpful if this food has had vitamins such as SeaChem’s Vitamin and Amino Acid concentrate added to it or a comparable product. Miniata Groupers should be fed once every 3 or 4 days to satiation. This fish although Reef Safe…it is so only with caution as any smaller tank mates, decorative shrimp and crabs will be ravenously devoured in short order, cover quick-no excuses! Groupers have no problem what so ever consuming prey items 1/3 their size, do not under estimate this fact!
If your looking to set up an “Aggressive Tank” then this is one Grouper that will add dazzling color to your display, but stay to a reasonably manageable size as well. Good luck and Happy Reefin’!
Common Name : Coral Hind, Coral Grouper, Strawberry Grouper, Miniata Grouper
Distribution : Western Indo-Pacific
Diet : Meaty foods such as Fish and Crustacean Flesh. Feed 2-3 times a week.
Size : 40cm(16 inches)
Compatibility : Will eat all fish or ornamental shrimp small enough to be ingested.
Suitability : Easy
Minimum Tank Size : Adults will require a tank of 100 + gallons (379 liters)
Reef Safe : Reef Safe with Caution
Without a doubt one of the most vividly colored fish available to the saltwater enthusiast bar none! Its strikingly bright red coloration with yellow edged finnage that’s been accented with pearlecent blue spots really makes this species stand out in a most major kind of way. While not the most commonly available Grouper to the hobbyist it is however one of the better choices in this family of fish. While it will grow to a considerable size its at least a manageable size for the average hobbyist. It will require a fairly large tank with lots of Live Rock arranged to provide hiding spots especially under intense lighting in a tank containing corals. It will spend a lot of its time sulking in caves and over hangs in the rock work. But don’t worry it wont stay hidden all of the time. It’s a very active fish and will often strut about its tank. This fish in addition to its flashy colors has much character about it. It is however an aggressive fish and should only be kept with other similarly sized aggressive fish. It’s recommended that this fish be kept singly in an aquarium, as it will brutally battle, often to the death, with conspecifics unless it’s a mated pair. Sexing of individual fish is very difficult. Breeding in captivity is possible in exceptionally large tanks if a mated pair can be obtained. Few if any of the off spring will survive unless they can be removed from the tank. Recommended tank mates are Triggers, Groupers (different species), Parrot Fish, larger Eels and larger species of Lion Fish. As with all large “Aggressive” fish, the tank will require a large capacity filtration system to eliminate waste and maintain water quality. A Protein Skimmer somewhat over sized for the tank is most highly recommended as well. Feeding is rarely ever a problem for this species, as it will most greedily devour anything that will fit inside its cavernous mouth with little or no hesitation. Recommended foods are thawed frozen shrimp, cut ocean fish, small whole fish and crabs. To maintain its vibrant colors it is important that it be feed a wide variety of food items and its also helpful if this food has had vitamins such as SeaChem’s Vitamin and Amino Acid concentrate added to it or a comparable product. Miniata Groupers should be fed once every 3 or 4 days to satiation. This fish although Reef Safe…it is so only with caution as any smaller tank mates, decorative shrimp and crabs will be ravenously devoured in short order, cover quick-no excuses! Groupers have no problem what so ever consuming prey items 1/3 their size, do not under estimate this fact!
If your looking to set up an “Aggressive Tank” then this is one Grouper that will add dazzling color to your display, but stay to a reasonably manageable size as well. Good luck and Happy Reefin’!
hareball - April 16, 2005 02:34 PM (GMT)
nice work!
I thought i'd add a few images :)
I thought i'd add a few images :)
Ritsuko Nashida - April 16, 2005 04:10 PM (GMT)
Sweeeet! Is that your big fella?
Mine is just a squirt still, but dispite his 7 inches he always acts like he is going to kill a big bear when he flares his gills and charges the tank glass as if he was going to really intimidate me, LOL....
I actually have a second one (4 inches) and I will probably attemp to try my hand at keeping them together in a large tank. If I can do that I will get a couple more and see if I can get a pair out of the deal and possibly mate them. Its a long shot I know, but with out presistance and innovation how are we ever going to over come hurdles in this hobby. The ocean is not an endless resource for the hobby and as such anytime its possible to give back to it I think we should.
Mine is just a squirt still, but dispite his 7 inches he always acts like he is going to kill a big bear when he flares his gills and charges the tank glass as if he was going to really intimidate me, LOL....
I actually have a second one (4 inches) and I will probably attemp to try my hand at keeping them together in a large tank. If I can do that I will get a couple more and see if I can get a pair out of the deal and possibly mate them. Its a long shot I know, but with out presistance and innovation how are we ever going to over come hurdles in this hobby. The ocean is not an endless resource for the hobby and as such anytime its possible to give back to it I think we should.
hareball - April 16, 2005 06:41 PM (GMT)
that sounds great! i'd concider trying this too but my queen trigger will never let it happen. the 2 are in a 125g now but soon going in a 225 DAS system to live out the rest of thier lives. my miniatus is going to be 4 years old soon and is around 9"-10" and getting thick.
DIESELMACK - April 17, 2005 04:59 AM (GMT)
heres my guy.......just recently sold him along with a coral catshark and dragon moray....miss them.
DIESELMACK - April 17, 2005 04:59 AM (GMT)
...............
DIESELMACK - April 17, 2005 04:59 AM (GMT)
....................
Ritsuko Nashida - April 17, 2005 07:04 AM (GMT)
Nice pics Guys!!!
Vip - April 17, 2005 09:19 AM (GMT)
man, what a fish!
hareball - April 17, 2005 12:45 PM (GMT)
great looking miniatus, dmack :D
DIESELMACK - April 17, 2005 02:39 PM (GMT)
figured you guys could appreciate this..........dragon moray morph I had...its not a haw. rather a local varient.
Punkypuffer - April 17, 2005 05:24 PM (GMT)
wow.. great fish guys!
Vip - April 28, 2005 03:30 AM (GMT)
thats kick ass DM, how big is it?
DannyBoy17 - May 2, 2005 12:04 AM (GMT)
My Jesus those are some nice fish.
--Dan
--Dan
Vip - August 18, 2005 12:37 PM (GMT)
makes you want to go Saltwater doesnt it?