Very little information is available on Grey snapper, so information reported is on mutton snapper and red snapper two related species.

DISTRIBUTION: 

West Indies, and U.S.A.

HABITS: 

Rocky bottoms near continental shelves. They are opportunistic feeders.

SPAWNING:

Still require hormone injection for improved spawning results. In red snapper spawning occurs in the summer months. Snappers appear to be able to spawn multiple times in a season.

GROWTH:

They can live 13 years or more. Growth is rapid in juveniles, but slows when it becomes full-grown. Red snapper can reach lengths of 3 ft. and weigh 26 lbs. These fish may mature at 3 – 4 yrs.

USES:

Food fish, sport fish, and commercial fish.

CULTURE:

Many techniques need to be developed. Culture of Red snapper and Mutton snapper is advancing but much needs to be learned prior to commercially culturing these species.

REFERENCES:

Bardach, J.F., J.H. Ryther, and W.O. McLarney. 1972. Aquaculture: The farming and husbandry of freshwater and marine organisms. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York, New York.

Watanabe, W.O., E.P. Ellis, S.C. Ellis, J. Chaves, C. Manfredi, R.W. Hagood, M. Sparsis, and S. Arneson. 1998. Artificial propagation of mutton snapper Lutjanus analis, a new candidate marine fish species for aquaculture. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 29(2): 176-187.