Red V-Tail Grouper
Cephalopholis urodelus
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity |
|---|
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Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Reef Safe | No |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 120 gallons |
| Max Size | 12 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Red V-Tail Grouper (Cephalopholis urodelus) is a compact, perch-and-pounce grouper with a deep red body and a tail marked by a pale “V”/banded look that stands out in fish-only and predator-friendly reef displays. It’s an Indo-Pacific hind that spends time posted at rock edges before making short, confident dashes through the aquascape.
What You’ll Observe:
- Perching on ledges and overhangs, then cruising short patrol routes around the rockwork
- A “wait, then strike” feeding style, especially at feeding time
- Recognizing the routine around the tank and showing up quickly when food is near
- Picking a favorite cave or notch and returning to it as a home base
Provide a rock-heavy layout with multiple caves and clear sightlines so it can settle in and move between cover points. Offer meaty frozen foods (like shrimp, clam, or similar marine blends) and train onto quality pellets over time for easy, consistent feeding. This species does best as the centerpiece with tankmates that match its confidence and size.
Will it spend most of the day hiding at first?
Many keepers see a “home base” phase early on where it posts up in one cave, then expands its patrol routes as it learns the tank’s routine.
Does it usually learn to take food from the water column, or only from the bottom?
Once acclimated, it commonly transitions to bold mid-water strikes, especially when you feed in the same spot and timing each day.
Can I keep more than one V-tail grouper together if I add them small?
Most hobbyists steer toward a single specimen per tank, since similar groupers often compete for the same caves and “home base” spots.
How do I switch it from chunk foods to pellets without a long adjustment?
Mix pellets into the same feeding window as meaty foods, then gradually increase the pellet portion as it begins striking at them.
Is “perching” on a rock ledge normal, even when the tank lights are bright?
Yes—many groupers rest on ledges like a lookout point, especially when they’ve claimed a favored spot with a clear view.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
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