Bass and Groupers
In this exceedingly large group of fish, few are considered proper aquarium inhabitants, for various reasons including diet and size. Basses vary greatly from species to species. Appropriate research should be done before purchasing a specimen. Many unsuspecting hobbyists bring home cute little specimens of popular aquarium fish such as the lyretail grouper, only to realize several months later that they do not have the resources to care for a meter-long that may cost hundreds of dollars a month to feed.
| Common name | Image | Taxonomy | Reef safe | Care Level | Description | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African grouper | Cephalopholis taeniops | No | Easy | 700169000000000000069 cm (27.2 in) | ||
| Vermillion seabass | Cephalopholis miniata | 700140000000000000040 cm (15.7 in) | ||||
| Blacktip grouper | Epinephelus fasciatus | No | easy | The tips of the spines of the dorsal fin are black, and it may have a dark red cap above the eyes. There is a variant with a uniformly pale body except for the frontal part. | 700140000000000000040 cm (15.7 in) | |
| Blue and Yellow grouper | Epinephelus flavocaeruleus | No | Moderate | 700190000000000000090.0 cm (35.4 in) | ||
| Blue dot grouper | Cephalopholis argus | No | Moderate | Deep black to tan fish with blue spots throughout. | 700150000000000000050 cm (19.7 in) | |
| Blue line grouper | Cephalopholis formosa | No | Moderate | Dark tan with horizontal blue stripes that are not particularly straight. The caudal fin has more of these stripes, and they radiate from the base of the fin out to the tips. | 700134000000000000034 cm (13.4 in) | |
| Chalk bass | Serranus tortugarum | Yes | Easy to Moderate | Blue iridescent body with distinctive black topside that is interrupted by small vertical blue stripes. | 70008000000000000008 cm (3.1 in) | |
| Coney grouper | Cephalopholis fulva | No | Moderate | 700141000000000000041 cm (16.1 in) | ||
| Golden grouper | Mycteroperca rosacea | No | Moderate | 700186000000000000086 cm (33.9 in) | ||
| Golden stripe soapfish | Grammistes sexlineatus | No | Moderate | Chocolate brown with light yellow horizontal stripes. Similar in patterning to C. argus (with exception to the coloration). | 700130000000000000030 cm (11.8 in) | |
| Harlequin bass | Serranus tigrinus | Yes | Easy to Moderate | Very striking black and white checkerboard pattern all over, with very long tapering nose. | 700129000000000000029 cm (11.4 in) | |
| Leaflip grouper | Pogonoperca punctata | No | Moderate | Sports a large, hinged mouth and is tan with little spots. Has brown triangle shaped markings down the spine. | 700135000000000000035 cm (13.8 in) | |
| Marine beta | Calloplesiops altivelis | Yes | Easy | 700115000000000000015 cm (5.9 in) | ||
| Miniatus grouper or Vermillion seabass | Cephalopholis miniatus | No | Moderate | Orange to red with large blue spots throughout. | 700145000000000000045 cm (17.7 in) | |
| Orange spot grouper | Cephalopholis panamensis | No | Easy | 700130000000000000030 cm (11.8 in) | ||
| Panther grouper | Cromileptes altivelis | No | Difficult | Gorgeous pure white fish with black spots and a distinctive "hump" on the head, leading to a popular common name, "Humpback Grouper". | 700175000000000000075 cm (29.5 in) | |
| Painted comber | Serranus scriba | No | Easy to Moderate | Large fish with classic Bass body, Silvery in colour with vertical tan stripes and a blue underside. | 700136000000000000036 cm (14.2 in) | |
| Polleni grouper | Cephalopholis polleni | No | Moderate | 700143000000000000043 cm (16.9 in) | ||
| Red flag grouper | Cephalopholis urodeta | No | Moderate | Very similar to C. miniatus, but the caudal fin is dark. | 700128000000000000028 cm (11.0 in) | |
| Lyretail grouper | Variola louti | No | Moderate | Silver back changing to red around the underside, darkening toward the caudal fin, which is lyre-shaped with neon green edging. | 700180000000000000080 cm (31.5 in) | |
| Saddle grouper | Plectropomus laevis | No | Easy | 7002125000000000000125 cm (49.2 in) | ||
| Spotted grouper | Epinephelus summana | No | Moderate | Dark black fish with many light green spots all over body, increasing in number toward the posterior. | 700152000000000000052 cm (20.5 in) | |
| Strawberry grouper | Cephalopholis spiloparaea | No | Moderate | 700130000000000000030 cm (11.8 in) | ||
| V tail grouper | Cephalopholis urodelus | No | Easy-Moderate | 700128000000000000028 cm (11.0 in) |
Read more about this topic: List Of Marine Aquarium Fish Species
Famous quotes containing the word bass:
“How are we to know that a Dracula is a key-pounding pianist who lifts his hands up to his face, or that a bass fiddle is the doghouse, or that shmaltz musicians are four-button suit guys and long underwear boys?”
—In New York City, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)