All fish / Serranidae

African Hind

Cephalopholis taeniops

Also known as african hind, bluespotted hind, blue spotted grouper, african grouper, taeniops grouper, no, 非洲九棘鲈

This grouper is orange to red, sometimes brownish, and covered in small bright blue spots, with blue-edged fins. Keepers like it for its strong colours and bold, interactive nature in large fish-only systems.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

35 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

800 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: fish, prawns, squid, mussel and other meaty frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Atlantic: West Africa from Mauritania to Angola, Cape Verde, Canary Islands; also recorded in the Mediterranean

Breeding

Like many groupers it is thought to be a protogynous hermaphrodite that scatters pelagic eggs. It has not been bred in home aquariums.

Good to know

Grows to about 40 cm or more and will eat any fish or crustacean that fits in its mouth, so it needs a very large tank and only robust tankmates. It is not reef safe for shrimps or small fish.