Panther Grouper - 3"+
$129.99
Sale price
$129.99
Regular price
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Panther Grouper - 3"+
$129.99
Sale price
$129.99
Regular price
Panther Grouper (Cromileptes altivelis)
Add an instantly recognizable, bold graphic aesthetic to your large predator tank with the majestic Panther Grouper. Also known as the Humpback Grouper or Polka-Dot Cod, this extraordinary marine fish features a stark white-to-creamy silver body decorated with bold, perfectly contrasting jet-black polka dots. With its uniquely exaggerated humpback profile, slender head, and broad, fan-like fins, the Panther Grouper glides through the aquarium with an elegant, almost weightless motion that belies its eventual massive presence.
Why It Stands Out
- Stunning Graphic Contrast: The monochromatic polka-dot pattern makes it one of the most visually striking and easy-to-spot fish in the marine hobby.
- Deeply Intelligent & Docile: While it is a predator to smaller fish, it is notoriously peaceful toward large tankmates and quickly bonds with its keeper, frequently begging for food at the glass.
- Mesmerizing Swimming Style: Uses its large pectoral and caudal fins to effortlessly hover, pivot, and cruise around rockwork.
Quick Care & Aquarium Parameters
The Panther Grouper is exceptionally hardy, resilient against disease, and an incredibly fast grower. However, hobbyists must plan ahead: while they arrive as adorable small juveniles, they will rapidly expand into large, thick-bodied giants that require substantial swimming room and heavy-duty filtration.
- Care Level: Easy (Highly resilient, but demands a massive aquarium setup).
- Minimum Tank Size: 150 Gallons for juveniles; 300+ Gallons long-term for full-grown adults.
- Reef Compatibility: Fish-Only with Live Rock (FOWLR) setups. It will not bother corals, but it will aggressively consume any small fish, ornamental shrimp, or crabs that can fit inside its surprisingly large mouth.
- Tankmates: Pair only with other large, robust species such as big Tangs, Triggerfish, Angelfish, and Large Eels. Avoid tiny reef fish.
- Water Parameters: Temperature: 72–78 °F | pH: 8.1–8.4 | dKH: 8–12 | Specific Gravity: 1.020–1.025.
- Diet & Nutrition: Carnivore. Requires chunky, meaty marine foods. Feed a varied diet of whole silversides, krill, chunks of raw shrimp, squid, and fresh clams to sustain its fast growth.