Mountain grunter
Hephaestus habbemai
Also known as Habbema grunter
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 64–79°F
- 18–26°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 5.9 in
- 15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 70 gal
- 265 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Egg scatterer · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Terapontidae
- Origin
- Mountain streams of New Guinea
Overview
The mountain grunter is a smaller, active grunter for a roomy, cool-water tank with a brisk current. It is a step up from the easiest fish.
Did you know
Most grunters are warm-water fish, but the mountain grunter lives in cool water high in the mountains of New Guinea. Few of its relatives can follow it there.
Caring for the mountain grunter
Give the mountain grunter a roomy tank of at least 70 gal (265 L), with open swimming space. Build a stream-style layout of rounded stones, gravel and scattered wood. Keep the current brisk with a strong filter or a powerhead.
Unlike most tropical fish, it does not want to be kept warm. Keep it at 64 to 79°F (18 to 26°C) with a neutral pH of 6.5 to 7.5, and give it strong flow and high oxygen. It is a hearty eater that takes pellets, frozen foods, prawn and earthworms.
The mountain grunter is less aggressive than many of its relatives, but it is still best kept singly or with sturdy tank mates. It holds its own among similarly sized, robust species and may nip or chase smaller ones, so choose companions with care.
Like other grunters, it scatters eggs and gives no parental care. Breeding is possible but not commonly done, so most fish are wild caught from New Guinea.
Good to know
Hephaestus habbemai is a grunter in the family Terapontidae. It stays fairly small, which makes it one of the more tank-suited members of a genus that includes much larger fish.
In the wild
The mountain grunter comes from cool, fast highland streams in New Guinea. It lives among cobbles and gravel and in the deep pools below rapids and small waterfalls. That water runs cooler and more oxygen-rich than most tropical rivers.
Common questions
What size tank does a mountain grunter need?
A mountain grunter needs at least 70 gal (265 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a mountain grunter need?
A mountain grunter is comfortable at 64–79°F (18–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
What does a mountain grunter eat?
A mountain grunter is a hearty eater. It takes pellets, frozen foods, prawn and earthworms.
How big does a mountain grunter get?
An adult mountain grunter reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).
How does a mountain grunter breed?
The mountain grunter scatters its eggs and gives no parental care. Breeding is possible but not commonly done, so most fish are wild caught from New Guinea.
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