TankBud

Coal grunter

Hephaestus carbo

Also known as Black grunter

FreshwaterFish

Coal grunter (Hephaestus carbo)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–86°F
24–30°C
pH
6.5–7.8
Adult size
13 in
33 cm
Minimum tank
159 gal
600 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Terapontidae
Origin
Northern Australian rivers

Overview

The coal grunter is a big, bold Australian native with plenty of personality and a short temper. It suits a large tank of similarly tough fish and keepers with a little experience.

Did you know

The coal grunter's name reads like a blacksmith's label. The genus Hephaestus is the Greek god of the forge. The species name carbo is Latin for coal, and both were chosen for its smoky black color.

Caring for the coal grunter

Give the coal grunter a tank of at least 159 gal (600 L), with large smooth boulders, sturdy wood and open channels. That layout gives it territory to patrol and open swimming room. Robust plants can work, but expect them to be tested.

It is used to warm water and cannot cope with cold. Keep it at 75 to 86°F (24 to 30°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. It needs clean, well-oxygenated, moving water, so fit strong filtration.

The coal grunter is an unfussy, greedy eater that takes pellets, prawns, mussel, earthworms and other meaty foods. It learns to beg at feeding time.

It is aggressive and will bully or eat smaller, weaker fish. Keep only one unless the tank is very large, since it does not tolerate its own kind. Any tank mates should be large, robust species that can stand up to it.

The coal grunter is an egg scatterer that spreads many small eggs over the bottom with no parental care. It has been bred, though with some difficulty.

Good to know

Hephaestus carbo is a grunter in the family Terapontidae. Adults have a deep, sooty-black body flecked with gold. Juveniles are brighter, marked with yellow and orange and a reddish ring around the eye. Grunters get their name from the sound they make with the swim bladder.

In the wild

The coal grunter lives in rivers across tropical northern Australia. It favors clear, flowing water and rocky pools, though it also turns up in more turbid, muddy stretches.

Common questions

What size tank does a coal grunter need?

A coal grunter needs at least 159 gal (600 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a coal grunter need?

A coal grunter is comfortable at 75–86°F (24–30°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.

What does a coal grunter eat?

A coal grunter is an unfussy, greedy eater. It takes pellets, prawns, mussel, earthworms and other meaty foods.

How big does a coal grunter get?

An adult coal grunter reaches about 13 in (33 cm).

How does a coal grunter breed?

The coal grunter is an egg scatterer, spreading many small eggs over the bottom with no parental care. It has been bred, though with some difficulty.

Related species