Red Emperor Snapper, beh., reading, data  1/31/08
hey,
<?>
I've had a red emperor snapper for about 4 months and it has pretty much doubled his size since I got him but recently his been getting red blotches when I turn off the lights in the tank and seems to just stop swimming and floats there.
<Mmm, could be "normal" night time behavior... sort of behavioral and marking camouflage against predators... but... what other fish species are present?>
In the mornings he's better but it kinda worries me that one morning I'll wake up to a dead fish. He's been worse since we added a powder
blue tang to our tank.
<Mmm, may feel threatened by this Acanthurus>
He did not have this problem with our damsel. Well hope to hear back thank you.
<How large a tank? Lutjanus sebae gets very large... please... read re these fishes care... systems, compatibility... at least on WWM. BobF>

Snappers   9/20/06
I am have been looking for information on blue line snappers. but I can not find much information on them could you give me some information on the species  Lutjanus kasmira?
<http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snappers.htm ; read this and the linked FAQs in blue at the top...Adam J.>

About blue line snappers   8/30/06
could you tell me how big they get and what size of tank they would  require?
I looked at the article and couldn't find this information. What  should I be looking for when if I purchase one?
<Mmm, Lutjanus viridis? Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snappers.htm
There are at least three such lutjanids with this common nomen... Once you know the species, take a look/see on fishbase.org
Bob Fenner>

Snapper compatibility
Dear Bob,
<Hi there>
I used to have a snapper living together with my golden maroon clown in harmony...
the snapper, emperor, though larger in size, does not attack my clown...
it got a little active and big, so I transferred it to another tank. it has been hand feeding well for a month.
<Neat>
I introduced a new baby snapper to my tank w my current golden maroon, both of which are very similar in size. I understand from your site (highly recommended by my uncle who's been rearing marines for a decade) that the snapper will not attack fishes big in size it cannot digest...
<Usually not>
however, this new baby snapper, 3 days in my tank, has been biting the fins of my maroon occasionally... unlike the other one that leaves harmoniously w my clown.
Is there a way I can salvage the situation??
<Possibly. I'd try isolating the snapper in a "floating jail"... a plastic colander (ask if you can use one... for straining spaghetti, other noodles usually) in the tank for a few days... often "takes the spunk" out of fighting fishes>
I thought maroon's are rather strong and aggressive fishes...
<Usually>
I don't understand the reason why but please note that my maroon's fins have been bitten by the old snapper (by accident I'm quite sure) during feeding time while they were rushing for food...
Some friends say its the size of the snapper same as clown) while others claim different emperor snappers have different characteristics...
what should I do??
<Try the separation>
I've thought of keeping the maroon in a separate under tank till its fins heal before moving it back w my snapper...
<Better to remove the snapper instead>
it seems a little scared of the baby snapper now, and doesn't look as happy and active as before...
lastly, my friend has a black beauty snapper (very healthy) in his tank for weeks already...can I include it in my tank?
<I'd wait till the current situation is resolved. Bob Fenner>

Re: Symphorichthys spilurus
Dear Jason <<Hello...>>
Thank you very much for your rapid answer. <<You are quite welcome.>>
Fortunately for his life, my Symphorichthys is about 20cm and the miniata 10cm. I removed the miniata this morning and tonight I plan to remove the sympho in the aim of rearing him alone in a 300l tank as long as he gets again his magnificent dorsals rays. <<Glad to hear it.>>
You'll find attached to this email 3 pictures of it taken one month ago.
Thank you very much again
Cheers
Pascal
<<And cheers to you. J -- >>

Lutjanid/Snapper Input (brackish too!)
hello Robert,
I've been keeping fish for over 15 years. and I've always been fascinated by the salt water species that are found or can live in freshwater. which some I and wondering. do you have pictures of, the following :Lutjanus fuscescens, Lutjanus goldiei, Lutjanus maxweberi
<Wow, struck out... Have pix of about twenty five species in this genus, but none of these three. There are some drawings, one pic of them on fishbase.org>
I've kept and caught L. argentimaculatus many times, and they are awesome.
now I'm wondering about the rest in the genera.
<Have some coverage under the family name on our site here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snappers.htm
and the associated FAQs beyond... Do agree with you re these fishes. Much under-utilized, under-appreciated. Bob Fenner>
much appreciated.
Wes

Re: Lutjanid/Snapper Input (brackish too!)
hello Robert,
thanks for the prompt reply. I did find one picture of l. goldiei. here it is.
let me know what you think of it.
<Good looking... and probably delicious barbecued! Bob Fenner>
Wes

about yellowtail snapper
How do I raise yellowtail snapper in open water cages? I'm not sure what to feed them in order to make them grow. I also have trouble keeping them alive. Is there any advice you can give me?
James >>
Is this a commercial (size, type) operation, trying to rear lutjanids for food? Or a hobby, speculative small scale venture? From what size to what size do you want to raise them? What other fin fish do you have aquaculture experience with?
Bob Fenner

Re: about yellowtail snapper
This is a test to see if yellowtail can be grown in captivity. the snapper are caught by hook and line in the normal way, chumming over the reef. they are not baby fish but are not full grown. I want to see if I can get them to grow over the legal limit which I believe is 13 inches. They have been fed raw fish twice a day but are not growing. I don't have any other fin fish experience. I need to show up at the school with ideas on how to make the project work. I will be there for 1 semester but I have to present my findings to the Bahamian Government in December. >>
>>
I see. Have you tried different diets? What sort of literature search(es) have you done to look into Lutjanid culture? Which species of Lutjanus is this? Have you looked through the resources of FishBase?
Bob Fenner

Re: about yellowtail snapper
I haven't tried different diets because I haven't been to the school yet. I am trying to get an idea of what to do when I get there. I have been sent some information but not in great detail. I would like to know if there are any supplements that would help increase fish size. Also what type of cage do you recommend for housing the snapper. The species is Yellowtail Snapper. >>
>>
Okay... pls cut and paste the following link to fishbase:
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname=Ocyurus&speciesname=chrysurus
for Ocyurus chrysurus... and click on the references section there, and look on our website for articles on how to search the literature to find what is currently known re this species, family... and its aquaculture: Home Page 
Bob Fenner

Red emperor snapper
Bob, What is the largest Red Emperor Snapper You have in stock? Or, In the next two weeks? I would like to know the growth rate of this species also. Thanks , Ed Noble 
>>
Gosh... am down in sunny southern California... and FFExpress/Petstore.com are in Emeryville, near San Fran... and their liveholding/shipping facility is around LAX... but will send this note along, as my direct liaison, John Caskie... who sorts through my feeble response attempts and edits (thank goodness) and posts a few will know how to get the answer to your query...
The snapper in question, Lutjanus sebae, gets to about a foot in length... and can do so within a year... if its fed (even starting tiny... most are imported at 3/4 to one inch) like it wants to be (i.e. all the time, a lot!)
Bob Fenner

Shy red emperor snapper
Delicious on a bed of rice and a lemon wedge! Actually, these beauties (Lutjanus sebae) are typically shy when new to a system or small... but they don't stay either with age and rapid growth. Take care to only keep larger-than-mouth size tankmates with this gulper.
Bob Fenner