Haemulon chrysargyreum

Gunther, 1859

Smallmouth Grunt

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Southern Florida, West Indies and south to Brazil.

Size: 9 inches (22 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits rocky coastal reefs and often found near Elkhorn and/or Staghorn coral growths, also under ledges or in caves, sometimes in larger numbers, at depths between 6 - 70 feet (2 – 20 m) venturing out mainly during evening hours to feed on small fishes, shrimp, crabs, worms, octopuses, snails, bivalves, sea cucumbers, isopods, urchins, sea stars, and zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Rarely ever seen in the trade, and usually more a public aquarium species. Quite attractive, with a streamlined silvery body with five or six horizontal yellow bands, with all fins also yellow.

Best maintained in very large fish-only aquariums with wide-open swimming areas with caves and overhangs to take shelter during the daytime. As to diet, will learn to take food during the daytime, and will consume a wide variety of frozen and fresh meaty foodstuffs (chopped squid, scallops, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc.), including any ornamental crustaceans in the aquarium, and should be fed several times daily.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Haemulidae

Genus: Haemulon

FYI: Popular fish in public aquariums.

A great fish for the large fish-only aquarium.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: No

Fish Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 150 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5