Haemulon plumierii (White grunt)

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Facts

Latin name	Haemulon plumierii
Local name	White grunt
Family	Haemulidae - Haemulon
Origin	The Mexican Golf, West Atlantic
Max length	53 cm (20.9")

As aquarium fish

Minimum volume	3000 l (792 gal)
Hardiness	Hardy
Suitable for aquarium	Suitable with care
Reef safe	Reef safe with caution
Aggressiveness	Mostly peaceful but might be aggressive towards similar species

Feed

Recommended	Fish Larger crustaceans (Shrimp, crabs...) Other invertebrates Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...)

Grows fast

This species grows very quickly if fed well.

Poses a threat towards small fish and invertebrates

This species can be a threat towards small fish, shrimps, small bivalves, worms, snails and the like.

Demand a very large aquarium when fully grown

This species needs a very large aquarium when fully grown.

Exactly how big the aquarium should be is hard to say, but the size of this species is such, that it cannot normally be kept in a home aquarium.

Requires a varied diet

This species must be fed with an appropriately varied diet.

Heavy load

This species eats a great deal and demands an aquarium that can tolerate such a heavy load.

Frequent feeding

This fish requires feeding several times a day, especially when newly added.

When the fish can find its natural food in the aquarium it requires less frequent feeding.

Singly or in a group

This fish can live on their own or in a group.

Hiding places

This species needs good hiding places, for example, between live rocks.

Requires plenty of space for swimming.

This species revels in swimming and requires an aquarium with ample space.

Family description (Haemulidae)

Fish within in the Grunt family do not often appear in private aquaria, but can be kept in a very large tank under proper conditions. They are predatory fish and mostly live off benthic crustaceans, worms and fish.

There can be a big difference in appearance when the fish is young and fully grown.

This family can divided into two groups: Plectorhinchinae (Sweetlips) and Haemulinae (Grunts).
Aquarists normally find Sweetlips to be the best looking, but they can be difficult to feed and it can be problematic giving them food containing enough nutrition. Grunts are more hardy and quicker to start feeding in aquaria.
It can be a good idea to have live food, Mysis or small live freshwater shrimp, in case these fish don't begin to feed.

One should not acquire these fish with the intention of selling them on when they get bigger. This is, not only because they grow quickly if fed correctly, but also because they are difficult to sell on to domestic buyers.

Sweetlips include the genera of Diagramma and Plectorhinchus.
Grunts include the genera of Anisotremus and Haemulon.

References and further reading

About references

Bob Fenner. Grunts, Porkfish (Excluding Sweetlips), Family Haemulidae - Wet Web Media - (English)

Scott W. Michael. 2004. Angelfishes and Butterflyfishes (Reef Fishes Series Book 3) TFH Publications / Microcosm Ltd. - (English)
Bob Fenner. Indonesian Grunts & Sweetlips, Family Haemulidae - Wet Web Media - (English)
WWM Crew. FAQs on Grunts, Sweetlips, Family Haemulidae - Wet Web Media - (English)