Emperor Snapper
Genus: Lutjanus
Species: L. sebae
Maximum Size: 46”
Aggression: Mid to High
Temperature: 75-82 F
pH: 8-8.5
Hardness: 15-25 dH
Brackish Tolerance: 1.012-1.025
Minimum Tank Size: 600 gallons for full sized adult, 200 gallons likely adequate for a few years
Feeding: Pieces of chopped fish and shellfish, shrimp, krill, squid
Notes: The Emperor Snapper is a somewhat common fish in the Marine fish trade, due to it’s striking red and white coloration. Unfortunately, this color does tend to fade with age and size but it still remains a very attractive fish.
Emperor Snappers do not make good community tank additions. In addition to their potentially huge size, they are also very predatory fish and likely will not coexist with significantly smaller fish. They are likely to eat or attack many of the larger high end brackish fish like Eel Catfish, Lionfish, and Indian Mud Morays (and with all three, possibly get envenomated in the process). Multiple Snappers are also likely to fight each other. It may get along with large Spotted Gar, in theory.
For being large, predatory fish, Snappers spend a lot of the day hiding and may get nervous without a few good hiding places to retire to. New additions are especially prone to shyness and may “sulk” for several days or upwards of a week when added to the tank. It may not eat during this time though food should still be offered. It’s worth noting that Snappers have large teeth and are capable of injuring the aquarist. Care should be taken to make sure hands are kept out of the tank as much as possible.
Sources
Snappers, Family Lutjanidae, Bob Fenner
Marines in the Brackish Water Aquarium, Neale Monks
