All fish / Serranidae

Clown Grouper

Pogonoperca punctata

Also known as clown grouper, spotted soapfish, snowflake soapfish, freckled soapfish, goatee grouper, clown soapfish, ヒゲハタ, 斑点须鮨, 须鮨

A chunky grouper relative with a dark brown to charcoal body covered in small white spots, a few dark saddles on the back and a small fleshy barbel on the chin. It is kept by fish-only aquarists who want a hardy, characterful predator that soon learns to take food from the keeper.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

30 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

700 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: whole fish, prawns, squid, krill and other meaty seafood

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Red Sea to the central Pacific

Breeding

It is thought to spawn by scattering pelagic eggs in open water, as other groupers do. Captive breeding has not been reported in home aquariums.

Good to know

It eats any fish or crustacean small enough to swallow, so it is unsuitable for reef tanks with shrimps. When stressed its skin releases grammistin, a mucus toxin that can kill tankmates in a closed system, so handle it carefully and keep good water movement and skimming.