All fish / Serranidae

Panama Graysby

Cephalopholis panamensis

Also known as panama grouper, pacific graysby, panamic graysby, graysby grouper, 巴拿马九棘鲈

This small grouper is olive brown to reddish with darker vertical bars, pale spots on the head and often orange edges on the fins. It is kept by marine hobbyists who like a hardy predator with plenty of character for a large fish-only or rocky reef tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

28 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

500 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: fish, shrimp, squid, krill and other meaty frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Pacific, Gulf of California to Ecuador and the Galápagos

Breeding

Like many groupers it is thought to be a protogynous hermaphrodite, starting life as a female and later changing to male. It has not been bred in home aquariums.

Good to know

It will eat any fish or crustacean small enough to swallow, so keep it only with robust tankmates of similar size. Provide caves and secure rockwork, as it spends much time hiding.