Lutjanus bohar

(Forsskal, 1775)

Twinspot Snapper, Red Snapper

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Marquesas and Tuamotu Islands, north to Southern Japan and south to Lord Howe Island.

Size: 30 inches (75 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits deep lagoon slopes, boat channels, and outer reef faces and slopes at depths between 3 – 600 feet (1 – 180 m) and feeds mainly on smaller fish, along with crustaceans, crabs, worms, clams, urchins, and various other benthic invertebrates.

General Husbandry: Has an elongated body that is mostly brownish red, with a groove running from the nostrils to the eyes. Its pectoral fins are black, and it’s dorsal, anal, and tail fins light brown. Juveniles have two white spots below the dorsal, which become mostly red or are completely gone as it grows into adulthood.

Rarely ever does this species appear in the trade, and when it does, it’s as a juvenile. Nevertheless, it would require very ‘large’ fish-only aquariums with wide-open swimming areas, and also caves and overhangs to take shelter in when it feels it needs to, to continue to survive in captivity.

As to diet, will eat a wide variety of frozen and fresh meaty foodstuffs (chopped squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc.), including any ornamental crustaceans and small fish in the aquarium, and should be fed at least once per day. Requires lots of open swimming area.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Lutjanidae

Genus: Lutjanus

FYI: Basically a human food fish or gamefish, and not intentionally collected for the aquarium trade - simply shown here for identification.

A voracious predator and will eat any moving invertebrates and fish small enough to fit into its mouth! One per aquarium.

Groupers, angelfish, and triggerfish make good tankmates.

Experience Level: Professional

Temperament: Active/aggressive

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: No

Fish Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Active and slightly aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 300+ gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 84°F (22 – 29°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5