Panther grouper (Cromileptes altivelis) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Humpback grouper, Barramundi cod
Family
Serranidae (groupers and sea basses)
Origin
Central Indo-West Pacific; clear lagoons and seaward reefs, often in dead or silty areas, 2–40 m (usually under 10 m).
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
75 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. Small juveniles are often sold, but they grow into a 70–75 cm fish. 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: mostly solitary and territorial, sometimes in small groups. It feeds most around sunrise and sunset. Identification: white to cream with black spots and a small head on a humped back, hence the name humpback grouper. The list gives 75 cm; the article gives up to 70 cm. Trade and status: popular in aquaria and in the Asian live food fish trade, and farmed in Taiwan and Indonesia. IUCN: Data Deficient. As a food fish it can carry ciguatera toxins. 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/Cromileptesaltivelis). Checked October 2026.

Diet

An ambush predator of small fish and crustaceans such as shrimps, plus squid and clams. Captive fish are usually fed fresh or frozen fish, prawn and squid.

Breeding

A protogynous hermaphrodite: fish are born female and most become male by about nine years old. Females mature at around 18 months. It is bred commercially in aquaculture, but not in home aquaria.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not reef safe and will eat any fish or invertebrate it can swallow. 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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