Painted Frogfish (Antennarius pictus) Care Guide
Antennarius pictus, the painted frogfish, is a variable Indo-Pacific ambush predator that often associates with sponges.
Overview
Antennarius pictus, the painted frogfish, is a marine fish of the family Antennariidae described by Shaw in 1794. According to FishBase and Wikipedia, it has a globulous, extensible body with soft skin bearing small dermal spinules, wart-like protuberances and eye spots that resemble the holes of sponges. Its coloration is highly variable.
Taxonomy
- Family: Antennariidae
- Genus: Antennarius
- Scientific name: Antennarius pictus (Shaw, 1794)
Habitat
FishBase records the species across the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Society Islands. It is reef-associated on shallow sheltered reefs; adults typically associate with sponges, while juveniles occupy open sand or reef and may mimic small sponges or nudibranchs. Reported depths range from 0 to 75 m, typically 0-16 m, with a preferred temperature near 25-29 °C.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- Adult size: 15-18 cm (FishBase reports a maximum of 30 cm TL)
- Lifespan: 5-20 years
Diet
The painted frogfish is a carnivore and ambush predator. Wikipedia describes it as a voracious predator that can attack small animals passing within strike range, mainly fishes, with prey approaching its own body size. It lures prey using its illicium, a modified first dorsal spine bearing an esca. In aquaria it is typically fed live or thawed meaty foods such as silversides.
Compatibility
This is a solitary, bottom-dwelling species best kept alone or only with conspecifics of similar size. Smaller fish and ornamental shrimp are readily eaten and should be avoided as tank mates.
Breeding
The species is oviparous. FishBase describes eggs bound in a ribbon-like sheath of gelatinous mucus called an egg raft or veil. Wikipedia notes that larvae remain pelagic for roughly two months, and that adults are solitary except during mating.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2021), as reported by FishBase.