Yellow Grouper

The Yellow Grouper is a large and impressive member of the Mycteroperca genus, named for the distinctive yellow coloration it can display, particularly around the mouth and during certain color phases. Adults typically show a brownish body with darker blotches and bars, though their ability to shift between color phases — including a striking bright yellow phase — makes them particularly interesting to observe.

In the wild, Yellow Groupers inhabit coral reefs, rocky outcrops, and seagrass beds throughout the Western Atlantic, typically at depths of 5 to 55 meters. They are opportunistic predators that feed primarily on fish and squid, using their ambush hunting strategy to strike from concealed positions among reef structures. Like many large groupers, they form spawning aggregations that make them vulnerable to overfishing.

Due to its substantial adult size of up to 39 inches, this species requires a very large aquarium of at least 400 gallons. Only expert aquarists with the resources for a massive FOWLR system should consider keeping this species. In captivity, they are relatively hardy once established, accepting frozen seafood and eventually pellet foods.