All fish / Serranidae

Yellow-edged Lyretail Grouper

Variola louti

Also known as lyretail grouper, yellow-edged lyretail, coronation trout, moontail grouper, lunartail grouper, lyretail cod, coronation grouper, ปลากะรังหางพระจันทร์, kerapu, バラハタ, kerapu sunu, 侧牙鲈

A striking grouper with a red to orange body covered in small lilac or blue spots, finished with yellow edges on the fins and a deep crescent-shaped tail. Juveniles are sold for their colour and bold character, but this is a fish for very large predator systems or public aquariums.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

60 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

1500 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

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

Breeding

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite that spawns in open water, with females changing into males as they grow. Captive breeding in home aquariums is not achieved.

Good to know

Grows to around 60 cm or more and will eat any fish or crustacean it can swallow, so it is not reef or community safe. Large wild specimens have been linked to ciguatera poisoning when eaten.