Strawberry Grouper

The Strawberry Grouper is a compact and vividly colored member of the grouper family, displaying a rich strawberry-red to orange-red body that makes it instantly recognizable. At a maximum size of around 9 inches, it is one of the smaller groupers available to marine aquarists, making it far more practical for home aquariums than its larger relatives.

In the wild, this species inhabits coral reefs and rocky outcrops at moderate depths, where it shelters among crevices and ambushes small fish and crustaceans. Despite its modest size, the Strawberry Grouper retains the predatory instincts characteristic of all groupers and will readily consume any tankmate small enough to fit in its mouth.

In captivity, the Strawberry Grouper adapts well to aquarium life, readily accepting frozen and prepared foods. A 75-gallon tank with plenty of rockwork and hiding spots is the minimum recommended setup. While not reef-safe due to its appetite for small fish and ornamental shrimp, this grouper is an excellent choice for a smaller predator community tank alongside similarly sized robust species.