Barred Grunt

The Barred Grunt is a distinctive Caribbean grunt species characterized by its bold vertical dark bars running along a silvery body, giving it a striking appearance that sets it apart from the more commonly seen horizontally striped grunts. Growing to approximately 14 inches in captivity, Conodon nobilis is a moderately sized grunt that is well suited for medium to large marine aquariums. Its attractive patterning and hardy constitution make it an appealing choice for aquarists looking for something different among the grunt family.

In the wild, the Barred Grunt is found throughout the Western Atlantic from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico south through the Caribbean to Brazil. It inhabits a variety of coastal habitats including rocky reefs, sandy bottoms near reef structures, and estuarine environments. Like other grunts, it is primarily nocturnal in its feeding habits, sheltering in schools near structures during the day and dispersing at dusk to forage over adjacent sand and rubble areas for crustaceans, worms, and small invertebrates.

In the aquarium, the Barred Grunt is one of the easier grunt species to maintain, readily accepting prepared foods and adapting well to captive conditions. It is a peaceful schooling species that does best when kept in small groups, though a single specimen will also do well in a community setting. A minimum tank size of 125 gallons is recommended to accommodate its adult size and active swimming habits. This species is reef-safe and generally ignores corals, though it may consume small ornamental crustaceans.