Lyre tail grouper or louti grouper

[Saltykirk]

Anyone have any experience good or bad keeping these guys?
I am installing a 535 gallon fish only tank for larger non-reef tank fish.
The tank will have some real huge LR pieces to make about 3 or 4 caves. But be open water other than that. I canned a shark/ray idea but, considering a large, colorful fish that is not very typical. Is there anything that can be kept w/ them? At a max size of 32-36", I know this grouper will have a huge mouth at some early point. What about disposition?
Like a panther, mild or mean like a miniatus? Sorry so long but, I gotta learn.

 

[Anonymous]

WOW! That sounds so cool. Well, you could include in the mix something like a Zebra moray. I'll have to do some research as I've only kept panthers. Another interesting fish is the Napolean wrasse (scary teeth!).
Try searching our library http://www.reefs.org/library , as well as the database of Advanced Aquarist online zine. Here are two links I've found with a good synopsis of this particular animal, and other basses.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/variola.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/basses.htm

 

[fishfanatic2]

That tank setup sounds completely awesome !!!!! I think that a large moray would go nice with a colorful, large grouper. Soldierfish might make nice tank companions, especially with all those caves.

535 gal.-WOW!!! Definitely something I would want !

 

[Saltykirk]

The size is a little daunting. I thought about the moray, grouper, & lionfish deal. It's going into a real nice resteraunt. Most women gag @ the site of a wonderful moray breathing. Out of the last 3 girlfriends I've had, they all thought morays were scary. And that was snowflakes.....

 

[Anonymous]

Try wolf eels, they're even better (they have faces!).

 

[Saltykirk]

Yeah, a baker's dozen please! I have only kept 2 groupers in my life & that is a Panther grouper & a Coral Hind(Miniata).
The Panther was so sweet. I bought it @ 2" and put it straight into a 125 gal. Fortunatly, I had a mid size tank to handle the growth I thought I was prepared for! I quickly grew and consumed the damsels that cycled the tank. It grew to 12-14" & I was able to hand feed and pet this fish. I will have another some day when I can put it in a 180. A cleaner wrasse actually lived in this setup 2 1/2 years. It used to go in the gills & out the mouth of the panther. Then I screwed up & brought a miniata to this happy home. In the first day it ate the cleaner & 3 days later it killed my Powder Brown tang I had managed to keep for a year, last 6 months no ich. I would like a neat community w/o the over aggression of the miniata. How about a Queen, an Undulatas, a Blue Line, and a Clown Trigger! LOL

 

[Anonymous]

I've kept C. miniata for many years, many different specimens, and have never had a problem with them.
I've always kept them with other groupers, triggers, angels and morays.

Cheers
Jim

 

[Saltykirk]

Well, I guess I can't damn the whole Genus since that was the only miniata I ever kept. I don't know where it was collected from or anything. Prettiest grouper I ever did keep though. Its' red was alot brighter than many I have seen in stores since, but mine was about 7-8" long when I got it.

 

[Vili_Shark]

Hi there,
There is one big difference between the L.louti and the C.miniatus, the louti is getting much bigger.

It is an agressive fish and it will get quite big in your tank, huge appetite and as you know from the C.miniatus, will swallow whatever can get in his mouth.

A real beauty with a personallity.