Atlantic/Caribbean Snapper and Grouper

[RC79ATC]

I have found a great appreciation for these smaller species of Predators from my local waters.

I've kept most of the inland snapper species...mangrove, school master, dog, mutton, mahogany, yellow tail, etc. I have also worked with the offshore species at the fish hatchery...of all these species the Lane Snapper has proven to be the most aquarium worthy. An attractive pink/red fish with bright yellow stripes, a generally mild temperament for a snapper, a solitary nature, greedy appetite and modest size make it a good candidate for a predatory tank.

The Graysby Grouper is a small, speckled ball of attitude and hunger. Of the two primary small grouper species of the region (including the Coney), the Graysby is definitely more belligerent. Normal top size for these guys is about 13 inches, they eat anything offered and they are quite attractive. They do not like tankmates (other than small morays which they ignore) and anything introduced after they are settled in the tank will get pestered and bullied. The Coney is less belligerent.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

Those guys look alert and easily excited! lol

Great looking tank, btw.

 

[toi_ss]

Amazing, I really like the florida aquarium mangrove exhibit where the have a shallow mangrove estuary/wetlands trail with tonnes of massive snapper and drums swimming around in crystal clear water. Your tank looks great, wish I could get macroalgae apart from chaeto here in NZ.

 

[RC79ATC]

Amazing, I really like the florida aquarium mangrove exhibit where the have a shallow mangrove estuary/wetlands trail with tonnes of massive snapper and drums swimming around in crystal clear water. Your tank looks great, wish I could get macroalgae apart from chaeto here in NZ.

I love that exhibit as well. I'm planning a greenhouse pond with a mangrove system in the not too distant future. All of my big native Predators will be in it. I can't wait.

Thank you. The tank is really just getting into its stable phase. I'm hoping the zoas and encrusting gorgonians cover up the rock work over time. I'm pretty happy with how this HOB filter is doing with the tank.

One day I hope to visit NZ and Australia...dream vacation.

Cheers

 

[RC79ATC]

Those guys look alert and easily excited! lol

Great looking tank, btw.

They are aquarium puppies. Always on the lookout for the next mouth full. I love how predatory fish get comfortable with people and develope interesting personalities.

Thank you. I'm pretty happy with the direction it is going.

 

[RC79ATC]

Amazing, I really like the florida aquarium mangrove exhibit where the have a shallow mangrove estuary/wetlands trail with tonnes of massive snapper and drums swimming around in crystal clear water. Your tank looks great, wish I could get macroalgae apart from chaeto here in NZ.

Is Macro algae banned or just hard to come by?

 

[toi_ss]

Is Macro algae banned or just hard to come by?

I'm not quite sure, the only algae available is bought from other hobbyists that have had the algae since the early 2000s. I haven't seen anywhere selling any so I assume commercial places aren't allowed to sell macroalgae and I don't think we can get any imported either. We have a problem with caulerpa as a pest here so that is probably why we cant get any. Caulerpa is the only algae that I know is banned for sure.

 

[RC79ATC]

I'm not quite sure, the only algae available is bought from other hobbyists that have had the algae since the early 2000s. I haven't seen anywhere selling any so I assume commercial places aren't allowed to sell macroalgae and I don't think we can get any imported either. We have a problem with caulerpa as a pest here so that is probably why we cant get any. Caulerpa is the only algae that I know is banned for sure.

Gotcha. Is there anywhere near you that you can go hand collect macro algae?

 

[toi_ss]

Gotcha. Is there anywhere near you that you can go hand collect macro algae?

It's mostly temperate waters around nz but there are a few areas where there is some invasive caulerpa, not sure how it managed to survive in the cold water here but I could quietly collect some if I really wanted to, would have to go diving though and I would have to be quiet about it due to them being an unwanted species.