HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOther freshwater fishBlacktip grouper Blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus) Scientific name: Epinephelus fasciatus Forssk?l, 1775 The Blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Serranidae. BiologyCommon in outer reef slopes at depths below 15 m, also occurs in protected bays and lagoons as shallow as 4 m. May also be found down to a depth of 160 m. At Madagascar it feeds night and day on brachyuran crabs, fishes, shrimps, and galatheid crabs. In Kenyan waters it feeds on crabs, stomatopods, fishes, ophiuroids, and octopus. In the Red Sea, mostly fishes and some crustaceans (mainly crabs) are consumed.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameEpinephelus fasciatusFamilySerranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length40.0Common length22.0Depth range4–160 m (13–525 ft)EnvironmentMarine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 4 - 160 m, usually 20 - 45 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: Red Sea to South Africa and eastward to the Pitcairn Group, north to Japan and Korea, south to the Arafura Sea, southern Queensland (Australia) and Lord Howe Island.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansReports of ciguatera poisoningUsesFisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercialResilienceLow, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.16) More other freshwater fishLined soleAchirus lineatusPumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusShort-tailed pipefishMicrophis brachyurus brachyurusFinescale tigerfishDatnioides microlepisSouth American lungfishLepidosiren paradoxaFreshwater garfishXenentodon cancilaSee all other freshwater fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026