Variola louti
| Identification | A deep red to reddish-purple body covered in small blue-violet spots, with a distinctive yellow-margined crescent (lyre-shaped) tail. Color deepens with age. Also sold as the Louti or Cherry Grouper. |
|---|---|
| Maximum Length | 32″ |
| Origin | Indo-Pacific & Red Sea |
| Minimum Tank Size | 300 Gallon |
| Reef Compatibility | Not reef safe. A large piscivore that will eat any fish or crustacean it can swallow. |
Behavior
A hardy, bold, fast-growing predator for very large fish-only systems. Personable and long-lived, but ultimately needs a huge tank and strong filtration to handle its heavy waste load.
Diet & Feeding
Meaty foods — silversides, krill, shrimp, clam and chunks of marine fish. Feed 2–3 times a week once grown; avoid freshwater feeder fish.
Cautions
Reaches over two feet — plan for its adult size. Will eat tankmates and invertebrates.