Sweetlips/Grunts

These fishes belong in the "Order Perciformes" and "Suborder Percoidei" as members of the "Family Haemulidae"(Grunts & Sweetlips) which include 2 Subfamilies, 17 genera and 150 species.

The two subfamilies are: Sweetlips (Plectorhinchinae) and Grunts (Haemulinae).

Grunts can actually make a grunting noise by grinding their teeth with the sound resonating in the swim bladder. The Genus 'Anisotremus' or sometimes referred to as the 'Porkfish' genus, contains about ten described species with only a couple of interest to hobbyists. Even then, they require large aquariums and carefully selected tankmates.

Sweetlips are quite similar, however their lips are much thicker, hence their name. And they are somewhat more delicate and therefore more difficult to maintain.

Most these fish live by day in caves and/or shipwrecks and venture out at night to feed on benthic invertebrates. They are excellent community fishes in the quiet aquarium, and are fairly shy bottom feeders and need a diet that mainly consists of meaty-type foodstuffs. Colorful and cute as juveniles, but much less desirable as adults because of their physical size.

Grunts