Bluelined Snapper

The Bluelined Snapper is one of the most visually striking and widely distributed snapper species in the Indo-Pacific, featuring a bright golden-yellow body marked with four vivid blue horizontal stripes running from the head to the tail. The combination of the warm yellow base color and the crisp blue lines creates a bold, attractive appearance that makes this species instantly recognizable on coral reefs. The belly is white to pale pink, and the fins are predominantly yellow. Reaching about 14 inches in length, it is a medium-sized snapper that is well-proportioned and graceful in its movements.

In the wild, Lutjanus kasmira has an enormous natural range spanning the entire Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa through the Indian Ocean to Hawaii and the central Pacific. It was intentionally introduced to Hawaii in the 1950s, where it has since become one of the most abundant reef fish and is considered an invasive species. It is a highly social species that forms large, dense schools during the day, sheltering under ledges, in caves, and around coral formations. At dusk, schools break apart as individuals disperse to feed on fish, shrimp, crabs, and other benthic invertebrates.

In the aquarium, the Bluelined Snapper is a hardy, adaptable species that makes an excellent introduction to the snapper family. It acclimates quickly to captive conditions and accepts frozen and prepared foods from the start. Its schooling nature means it is most impressive when kept in groups, but this requires a tank of at least 125 gallons for a small school. It is semi-aggressive and will consume any fish or invertebrate small enough to fit in its mouth. A FOWLR setup with large, robust tankmates is the ideal environment.