Tiger Grouper

The Tiger Grouper is a large and impressive Caribbean grouper recognized by its distinctive pattern of dark, irregular vertical bars and blotches against a lighter brownish-gray body, reminiscent of tiger stripes. This bold patterning, combined with its substantial adult size of up to 42 inches, makes it a truly imposing reef predator.

In the wild, Tiger Groupers are found on coral reefs and rocky areas throughout the Caribbean and Western Atlantic, typically at depths of 10 to 40 meters. They are solitary ambush predators that rely on camouflage and explosive strikes to capture prey, primarily fish and crustaceans. They are known to form seasonal spawning aggregations, during which they are particularly vulnerable to overfishing.

Due to its massive adult size, the Tiger Grouper is only suitable for very large aquariums of 500 gallons or more, effectively limiting it to public aquariums and the most dedicated private collectors. In captivity, they are hardy and adapt well to tank life, readily accepting a variety of frozen and fresh seafood. Their predatory nature and large size mean they are not reef-safe and will consume any tankmate they can overpower.