{"product_id":"flagtail-rockcod","title":"Flagtail Rockcod | Cephalopholis urodeta","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Flagtail Rockcod, also known as the Flagtail Grouper or Darkfin Hind, is a small, hardy grouper with a rich red to reddish-brown body and two pale diagonal bands across the tail that give it its name. Reaching around 28 cm, it is a bold, characterful predator for a fish-only or FOWLR system. Like all groupers it is a capable hunter, so its tank mates need to be chosen with its appetite in mind.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis species is widespread across the Indo-Pacific, living in clear shallow water on the outer edges, tops and back reefs of coral systems. It is solitary and territorial, lurking among rock and coral and ambushing small fish and crustaceans that stray too close. In the aquarium it wants a system with substantial rockwork, caves and overhangs to claim as territory, open water to move through, and robust filtration to cope with its meaty diet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe body is stocky and deep red to brown, often darker toward the rear, with the two pale bands radiating across the tail fin that inspired the \"flagtail\" name. Colour can shift with mood and lighting. It has the large mouth typical of groupers, capable of engulfing surprisingly large prey. The adult size of around 28 cm makes it a manageable grouper compared with many relatives, but its predatory nature should be respected. A healthy specimen is alert, full-bodied and feeds eagerly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is predatory and territorial. It will not bother corals, but it will hunt and eat any fish or crustacean small enough to swallow, and it may defend its chosen cave against newcomers. Keep only one per tank, as they fight among themselves. Suitable companions are robust fish too large to be eaten, such as larger tangs, angelfish, wrasses and other groupers or predators of similar size and temperament. It is emphatically not a community reef fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a carnivore that feeds on meaty marine foods. Offer a varied diet of prawn, squid, mussel, clam, fish flesh and other chunky seafoods, along with quality carnivore preparations. Feed a few times per week rather than every day, as groupers eat large meals and are prone to overfeeding. Avoid a diet of feeder fish, which offers poor nutrition and disease risk. Remove uneaten food promptly to protect water quality, as this fish places a heavy load on filtration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 380 L, with 700 L or larger recommended given its bulk, appetite and territoriality. Maintain temperature at 24–27°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. Powerful filtration, strong protein skimming and regular water changes are important to handle its meaty diet. Provide secure caves and stable rockwork. This is an advanced fish, straightforward to feed but demanding in terms of space, filtration and careful tank mate selection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBreeding is not achieved in the home aquarium. Groupers are broadcast spawners, and many are protogynous hermaphrodites, releasing eggs and sperm into open water to produce pelagic larvae that cannot be reared without specialised facilities. The keeper's focus should be on providing space, secure territory and a good meaty diet rather than attempting to breed this species.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCephalopholis urodeta\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFlagtail Rockcod (Flagtail Grouper, Darkfin Hind)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-Pacific outer reefs and lagoons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e28 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–15 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePredatory and territorial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdvanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e380 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e700 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore; meaty marine seafoods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFish-only and FOWLR systems with large, robust tank mates\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot reef safe (eats fish and crustaceans; coral is left alone)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include large tangs, angelfish, larger wrasses, triggerfish, other groupers and robust predators too large to be swallowed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with small fish, ornamental shrimp, crabs and other invertebrates it will eat, other individuals of its own kind, and delicate community fish.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234140864803,"sku":"BA9009-S-AU","price":38.75,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234140897571,"sku":"BA9009","price":58.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234140930339,"sku":"BA9009-L-AU","price":67.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-27cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55351941628195,"sku":"BA9009-XL-AU","price":77.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562754097443,"sku":"BA9009-S-IMP","price":38.75,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562754130211,"sku":"BA9009-M-IMP","price":58.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562754162979,"sku":"BA9009-L-IMP","price":67.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-27cm) \/ Imported","offer_id":55562754195747,"sku":"BA9009-XL-IMP","price":77.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/flagtail-rockcod-43090658591011.webp?v=1790306133","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/flagtail-rockcod","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}