The Red Emperor Snapper is a compact and powerful fish found in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is a popular game and large aquarium fish. They enjoy rocky and coral reefs, flat sandy areas or gravel, at depths of 5-280m. This fish is also known as Government Bream, King Snapper, Queenfish, Red Kelp.
The Red Kelp can reach a length of 60-115cm, weighing up to 32kg, and with a lifespan of up to 40 years. It has 11 dorsal spines, 15 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines and 10 anal soft rays. They have a sloped head, rusty red to pink body, pink pectoral fins and the rest of the fins are red. A dark red-brownish band runs from the tip of the snout and through the eye, a band from the middle of the dorsal fin to the pelvic fin, and a diagonal band from the end of the last dorsal spine to the lower caudal fin.
The Red Snapper fish can be found in schools of similar sized individuals or solitary. They are broad spawners and form spawning congregations during spring and summer. These passive looking fish are actually aggressive feeders and their diet consists of crustaceans (clam, scallops, shrimp) and other smaller fish.
Dry Tortugas Red Snapper underwater video
The larger Red Kelp fish are known to cause ciguatera, a foodborne illness which cause diarrhoea, vomiting, numbness, itchiness, heat sensitivity, dizziness and weakness.
