{"product_id":"mangrove-jack-lutjanus-argentimaculatus","title":"Mangrove Jack | Lutjanus argentimaculatus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA legendary Australian brawler, the Mangrove Jack starts life as a handsome, coppery juvenile and grows into a powerful, hard-hitting predator that can reach 50–60 cm or more in the aquarium. Highly euryhaline, it can be raised in freshwater as a youngster and moved through brackish to full marine as it matures. This is strictly a fish for experienced keepers with serious space and filtration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFound through the Indo-West Pacific, including northern Australia, juveniles inhabit mangrove-lined estuaries and freshwater river systems, while adults migrate offshore to reefs. The species tolerates the full range from fresh to marine water, hence its estuarine lifestyle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA robust, deep-bodied snapper with a large mouth and prominent canine teeth. Colour ranges from coppery-bronze and reddish in estuarine juveniles to deeper red in mature marine fish. Aquarium specimens commonly reach 50–60 cm, and can grow larger still; wild fish exceed a metre.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAggressive and predatory. It will eat any fish it can fit in its mouth and fights fiercely with its own kind, so it is usually kept singly or only with large, tough tankmates such as other big brackish or marine predators. Never house it with small or peaceful fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA carnivore with a big appetite. Offer meaty foods such as prawn, fish fillet, squid and mussel, along with quality pellets for large predatory fish. Feed juveniles two to three times daily, reducing to once daily as the fish grows, with an occasional fast day.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a very large tank — at least 1000 litres for a single adult — with powerful filtration, strong water movement and secure décor. Increase salinity gradually as the fish matures towards its brackish-to-marine adult phase. Water quality must be excellent given its size and messy feeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMangrove Jack are offshore reef spawners that migrate to sea to breed, and they are not bred in home aquaria. Aquarium fish are wild-collected or farmed juveniles.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLutjanus argentimaculatus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMangrove Jack (Mangrove Red Snapper)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-West Pacific, incl. northern Australia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 50–60 cm in aquaria (over 1 m in the wild)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–15 years or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAggressive predator\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\u003e1000 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1500 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (meaty foods, large predator pellets)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.5–8.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerately hard to hard\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEuryhaline — fresh as juvenile, brackish to marine as adult\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdvanced keepers with very large brackish\/marine systems\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (predatory brackish\/marine fish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOnly large, tough fish able to look after themselves, such as barramundi, archerfish, scats, monos and other big brackish predators kept in an appropriately huge system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAny small or peaceful fish, which will be eaten, and other Mangrove Jacks in cramped quarters, which triggers brutal fights.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55304229880099,"sku":"BA8546","price":129.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55232771227939,"sku":"AA3643","price":129.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55232771260707,"sku":"AA3643-L","price":150.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-100cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55353177964835,"sku":"AA3643-XL","price":175.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/mangrove-jack-lutjanus-argen-43878517965091.webp?v=1790305550","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/mangrove-jack-lutjanus-argentimaculatus","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}