The red grouper is found over a variety of substrates but mostly over rocks to about 625 feet in depth. This grouper, as well as many other groupers changes from female to male after 5-10 years. They are opportunistic carnivores that feed on cephalopods, crustaceans, and other invertebrates as well as fish.

SPAWNING:

Mature females (age 4-6 years) produce 200,000-700.000 eggs. Spawning occurs during late April -early May, usually when water temperatures reach 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

GROWTH:

Groupers may be as old as 30 years of age. They grow rapidly reaching 21 oz. in about six months. Their rate of growth does not seem to differ markedly by sex.

USES:

A commonly and commercially important fish in Florida, Cuba, and Mexico. The red grouper is a very high valued species with good characteristics for aquaculture.

CULTURE:

The red grouper is generally farmed in cages in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong on a small scale. Research is underway to develop culture techniques in this species in the United States.

REFERENCES:

Iverson, E.S. and K.K. Hale. 1992. Aquaculture Sourcebook. Van Nostrand Reinhold. New York, New York.

Williams, J.D., D.W. Gotshall, D.K. Caldwell, M.C. Caldwell. 1995.

National Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Fishes, Wales and Dolphins. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. New York, New York.