So lately my miniatus has been active going all over the tank, but does it while in full color change with the stripes and everything showing. Sometimes he'll hang out in a small overhang on the opposite of tank from his cave. Is he just getting more comfortable in the tank or is this a sign of stress or something?
Miniatus Grouper Behavior
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Let's see if we can get you some help. Any Grouper behavior analysts on the [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]?
melypr1985
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Can we get some tank specs? How big? What are his tank mates? Is he eating? Was he QT'd? All the usual ect ect....
180 gallons. 6ft by 2ft by 2ft. My nitrates are kinda high atm at 20. His tank mates are a snowflake eel, pink tail trigger, and foxface. He eats a mix of silver sides or shrimp. QT'd for a couple weeks before I put him in the display. It's just really odd seeing him anywhere besides his cave and usual perching rock.
melypr1985
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I dont have experience with a miniatus grouper, but the ones I have had at the store would have short spurts of activity even outside of feeding time. Hmm. I know @cowboy has a grouper, though I can't remember what kind right now. Maybe he can offer an insight for you.
I've had a few Miniatus Groupers (one of my fav predator fish). IME; he would usually only start swimming all over the tank when another fish's presence agitated him. I guess to show dominance and to display aggression. Sometimes this resulted in another fish getting taken out. One time, a Miniatus I had ambushed a Picasso Trigger I had recently added by swimming up from below and ripping his stomach out. :eek:
that sounds terrifying...though in my case he sorta just does his thing away from the trigger and fox. They had a little scuffle for the first five minutes the trigger was put in, and they leave each other alone now.
melypr1985
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Holy Crap! That does sound terrifying!
While I have your attention, have you ever seen a miniatus get LESS aggressive when a new mate is added? He used to be an utter monster to my Foxface. Wouldn't even let him within 2 feet of his cave. Now, he'll let either one of them come within a few inches before he scares them off.
Oh yeah, they get used to new additions the same as any other fish. And become less aggressive towards them. The homicide only usually occurs when a new fish is added. The problem is the instant damage a ticked off grouper can do compared to, say, an aggressive tang. They do not have many teeth on the edges of their jaws, but they have heavy crushing tooth plates inside the pharynx.
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My miniatus have always been pretty docile (for a grouper), and they do change color with stress. They get excited sometimes and change colors too. Mine were always keep with triggers and although I never witnessed any aggression towards triggers (nor was I even aware a miniatus could do this to a trigger) I certainly could see why they would react this way to food competition!
After some more observation, I think Barry (the grouper) is establishing a new home in the overhang I have on the other side of the tank instead of the cave. Pretty sure he didn't appreciate the snowflake moving in ti be his roommate in the cave.
That should be fine. Try to get a large one so the grouper doesn't feel like its a fish he can easily take down. :D
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