Bay snook

Care at a glance

Overview

The bay snook is a large ambush predator with a specialized feeding style. It needs a very big tank and suits a keeper with a little experience.

Caring for the bay snook

A single adult bay snook needs at least 95 gal (360 L), with plenty of open swimming room. Add wood or rock as cover for it to lurk in, since it hunts from ambush.

Keep the water at 77 to 86°F (25 to 30°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. Feed meaty foods and quality pellets, and avoid live feeder fish.

The bay snook is a predator that eats smaller fish, so choose tank mates with caution. It is comparatively shy, though, and mostly peaceful rather than a territorial brawler. Breeding it is moderately difficult.

Good to know

Petenia splendida was described by Gunther in 1862, and it is the only species in its genus. Its color ranges from the wild green and silver to a leucistic red form sold as the red bay snook.

In the wild

The bay snook lives on the Atlantic slope of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, from the Grijalva to the Usumacinta systems. It occupies lakes and slow lower river reaches over soft bottoms.

Common questions

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