Coney grouper (Cephalopholis fulva) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Coney, Butterfish
Family
Serranidae (groupers and sea basses)
Origin
Western Atlantic: South Carolina and Bermuda through the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean to southern Brazil; coral reefs, 1–70 m.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
41 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.020–1.025
Minimum tank
800 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Reef safe
no
Lifespan
Up to 28 years years

Care

Tank and decor: a large fish-only or predator system with caves and overhangs, since it shelters under ledges by day. The tank size here is an estimate based on its adult size and habits. Strong filtration and a protein skimmer help with the waste from a meaty diet. Water: the sources give no species-specific figures, so the values here are general marine aquarium guidance: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4 and specific gravity 1.020–1.025. Keep nitrate low and the water well oxygenated. Behaviour: a territorial ambush predator. In the wild a male guards a harem of females. Juveniles mimic damselfish. Adults can switch quickly to a two-tone colour pattern, and at night they turn pale with vertical bars. Identification: colour varies (red-brown, bicoloured or yellow) with small pale-edged blue spots. The list gives 41 cm; the article gives up to 44 cm. Trade and status: juveniles are collected for the aquarium trade, and it is fished for food in the West Indies and Brazil. IUCN: Least Concern. Selling: our policies require the adult size and long-term tank needs to be stated clearly in the listing. Large fish must travel by a specialist live-animal courier (see the Livestock shipping guide). Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalopholisfulva). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Predator of small fish and crustaceans, hunting mostly at night; in the wild it follows hunting moray eels to grab prey they flush out. In the aquarium offer a varied diet of meaty marine foods (fish, prawn, squid, mysis) a few times a week rather than live feeder fish.

Breeding

A protogynous hermaphrodite: fish mature as females at about 16 cm and may change to male from about 20 cm. Spawning happens at dusk over a few days, and the larvae drift for a long time. Not bred in home aquaria.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not reef safe: it will eat small fish, shrimps and crabs. Keep with robust fish too big to swallow, such as large angelfish, tangs or other groupers of similar size in a big enough tank. Avoid adding smaller fish later.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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