Sooty Grunter 3cm

Sooty Grunter

The Sooty Grunter is a robust and aggressive freshwater fish native to the rivers and streams of northern Australia. Its incredible adaptability and striking jet-black appearance make it a popular choice among aquarists and anglers alike. Known for its aggressive temperament, this fish is an exciting addition to larger, well-maintained aquariums or to keep in a species-only setting.

The Sooty Grunter has a long, deep-bodied profile with a dark, sooty appearance that gives it its common name. Its body coloration ranges from dark brown to black, sometimes with a greenish or bluish hue. Juveniles often have lighter coloration and may exhibit vertical stripes, which fade as they mature. Adult Sooty Grunters can reach up to 50 cm in length,
though in captivity they usually grow to around 30 cm. They have strong, spiny fins and a powerful, predatory mouth adapted for a varied diet. These are also highly aggressive fish which is why they are better suited to a species-only environment.

Breeding Sooty Grunters in captivity is challenging but achievable with the right conditions. They are substrate spawners, and males can become highly territorial and aggressive during the breeding season. Providing a spacious tank with suitable spawning sites, such as flat rocks or large pieces of driftwood, is essential. The males will prepare and guard the nest site, and both parents may take part in protecting the eggs and fry.

Tank Recommendations for your Medaka White Super Miyuki
Given their size and aggressive nature, Sooty Grunters require a spacious aquarium with a minimum volume of 500 Litres. A tank setup that mimics -their natural habitat, with a sandy or fine gravel substrate, ample hiding `spots, rocks, and driftwood, is ideal. They prefer well-oxygenated water with moderate to strong water flow. Maintaining water conditions with a pH of 6.5-8.0 and a temperature range of 22-28°C will ensure they thrive. Regular water changes and robust filtration are crucial to keep the water clean and suitable for these large fish.

Suitable Tank Buddies
One of the most common knowledge points on these fish is just how aggressive they are in both the aquarium and angling world. These are predator fish and will often chase their prey instead of ambushing like a lot of other common Aussie predator species. It is best to only keep these fish with species that get just as big or bigger.

Usually Compatible
Barramundi, Saratoga, Eel tail catfish, and other larger growing or predatory species.

Sometime Compatible
Semi-aggressive or larger growing South American cichlid species like Oscars, jaguar cichlids, and similar fish

Rarely Compatible
Severum and other larger but peaceful fish along with anything smaller than
the grunter which is sure to be easy prey or a target of aggression.

Feeding your Sooty Grunter
Sooty grunters in general are by far one of the easiest fish to feed. They will eat any aquarium food given to them from pellets to frozen foods. Their diet should contain good quality floating or sinking pellets with high protein content.

This should be supplemented with frozen foods such as bloodworms. One thing to note is that they are messy eaters so feeding flakes might not be a good option.