Lyretail grouper (Variola louti) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Yellow-edged lyretail, Yellowedge coronation trout, Fairy cod, Lunar-tail rock cod, Lyre-tail cod, Moontail seabass
Family
Serranidae (groupers and sea basses)
Origin
Indo-Pacific, from Durban and the Red Sea to southern Japan, Australia and the Pitcairn Islands; clear water around islands and offshore reefs, 15–350 m.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
80 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.020–1.025
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
aggressive
Reef safe
no

Care

Tank: This fish outgrows home aquaria and is only suitable for public-aquarium-sized systems; no home tank size is given. It reaches about 75–83 cm and up to 12 kg. 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 powerful open-water predator. Juveniles look like goatfish. Identification: red to orange with small spots and a crescent (lyre-shaped) tail edged in yellow. Trade: valued as a food fish and seen in the aquarium and live food fish trades. It has been linked to ciguatera food poisoning. 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/Variolalouti). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Mainly fish, plus crabs, shrimps and mantis shrimps. In captivity feed large pieces of fish, prawn and squid.

Breeding

Females mature at about 33 cm. Spawning aggregations have been seen off Sumatra from December to February. Whether it changes sex is not yet confirmed. Not bred in home aquaria.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not reef safe; eats fish and crustaceans. Only for very large systems with other large fish.

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

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