Lyretail grouper
Variola louti
Also known as Yellow-edged lyretail, Louti grouper, Moon grouper, Coronation trout
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.0–8.4
- Adult size
- 31.5 in
- 80 cm
- Minimum tank
- 291 gal
- 1,100 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Not reef safe
- Family
- Serranidae
- Origin
- Native to the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea to the central Pacific, living on outer reef slopes and drop-offs.
Overview
This is a serious commitment: adults reach around 80 cm and need a fish-only tank of at least 1100 litres, realistically far more, with powerful filtration. Keep it at 24 to 27 C and pH 8.0 to 8.4 with large caves. It will eat any fish or invertebrate it can catch, so keep it only with big, aggressive tankmates like large angels, triggers or eels. Feed meaty seafood a couple of times a week and do not overfeed.
In the wild
The lyretail grouper is a deep red to orange reef predator covered in blue and pink spots, with a beautiful crescent tail edged in yellow. Juveniles are brightly coloured and heavily traded, but this is a fish that reaches roughly 80 cm and becomes a tank-busting monster. It is a fast, hungry hunter that dominates any system it is in.
Good to know
Variola louti is one of the larger reef groupers and, like most serranids, is a protogynous hermaphrodite. Large wild adults can accumulate ciguatera toxin. The yellow-trimmed lyre-shaped tail gives the species its common name.
Did you know
Despite its size and appetite the lyretail is a picky roamer that patrols steep outer reef walls, and dive guides prize a sighting because adults are wary and rarely let people get close.
Common questions
What size tank does a Lyretail grouper need?
A Lyretail grouper needs at least 291 gal (1,100 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Lyretail grouper need?
A Lyretail grouper is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.0–8.4.
How big does a Lyretail grouper get?
An adult Lyretail grouper reaches about 31.5 in (80 cm).
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