Call me crazy but...

[Scutterborn]

I'm not nearly in to fish as I am into corals. Only a few species have really caught my eye in a manner that caused me to get giddy. It happened...

I was at Austin aquadome today and saw this lil guy
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/10/ygubu9uh.jpg

He is one of the cutest and unusual fish I've ever seen. I want him!!! I resisted the involuntary urge to reach around for my wallet and thought. (Unusual for me). Research, Ben. Research, Research, Research!!!

So I'm looking for anyone who has experience with frogfish. Don't cite google links to MRI will be all over that when I get home. First or second hand experience is what I'm looking for.

Yes it would be a species specific tank.


- Ben -

[allan]

tagging along. I saw one at TT the other day and almost picked him up. Same thing though, wasn't sure if it was reef safe, certainly didn't look like it was a mean fish either.

[ErikH]

They eat fish and sit on corals. Other than that they're cool.

[allan]

Eat fish? Like... big fish, or something that fits in its mouth?

[FireWater]

Anything that will fit in its mouth is a gonner.

[allan]

How big do they get?

Oh, and do they require live food? That's a big responsibility.

[ElChicano]

My brother in California has three. One just Just hangs out on the sand the other two are always perched on the rock. Im going to assume they have their own territory in his tank. Any small fish smaller than them will be eaten. So kiss your clowns, damsels etc goodbye. They have one of the fastest strikes in the animal kingdom. It does not seem like it.. But they are QUICK.. Here is a clip I found on you tube so you can see one eat..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h64FplMVJmE

[FireWater]

How big do they get?

Oh, and do they require live food? That's a big responsibility.

Depends on the particular type Allan. I believe there are dwarf varieties that only get 1 - 2" and some that get as big as 15".
Google some videos of frog fish. Cool to watch them hunt and eat. They have big mouths that when they open suck in the food because of the water volume difference.

A friend of mine kept them for a while and he fed live. Not sure if they need live all the time. He fed shrimp and fish.
It was cool to see the fish blending in with its surroundings and you could see it follow the food with its eyes and then when it got close enough - WAM! all over in less than a blink of the eye.

[alton]

I think he would go great in a 40 gallon species tank?

[Scutterborn]

The one in the pic is roughly 1.25". I was told frogfish can get as big as a bowling ball. I'm assuming they used that analogy because of their matured girth. Slow growers though. It'd take decade to reach that size for this guy.

They can be trained to eat prepared foods. With this one so young it may be easier.


-Ben-

[Mr Cob]

awesome specimen Ben

[Scutterborn]

He's not mine.... Yet

Gotta get the green light from the boss.


- Ben -

[350gt]

Never seen anything like that.....

should have got him....

[Scutterborn]

Never seen anything like that.....

should have got him....

I'm practically begging the wife to accept him. She's worried that I'm not looking long term. We will only have 2 tanks set up once the 185 is in the house. She's not sure I could resist having only one fish in a tank. She's wrong.


-Ben-

[Sherita]

I'm practically begging the wife to accept him. She's worried that I'm not looking long term. We will only have 2 tanks set up once the 185 is in the house. She's not sure I could resist having only one fish in a tank. She's wrong.


-Ben-

Well, if you got my 72g custom then you wouldn't have to only have one fish in a tank, ROFL!

That little guy is a cutie, good thing I am so far away.

[Scutterborn]

Well, if you got my 72g custom then you wouldn't have to only have one fish in a tank, ROFL!

That little guy is a cutie, good thing I am so far away.

Are you the lil devil on my shoulder? Mwhahaha! I am presently only planning on keeping the 28g nano and the 185. There's a certain keyword involved in that last sentence.

Don't worry, Sherita. I'm definitely not ruling it out. Just trying to focus on the lack of activity on the 185 and not get sidetracked still.


-Ben-

[reefreak]

Keep the cfl one!

[Sherita]

:angel:

I have no idea what you could possibly be talking about Ben.


:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Scutterborn]

So what's the final verdict from the community?

He'll be in a species specific 28g nanocube tank for at least the next two years. I'm not sure on the growth rate of this species. I've read that some species can grow to the size of a bowling ball and others to only 5-7". I'm not sure what species this guy is and I don't want to house him unethically.


- Ben -

[FireWater]

Ask the guys at the Dome. They are usually great about knowing their fish.

[Scutterborn]

Looks like Sherita and I have identified it as an Antennarius maculatus species. A clown warty frogfish. Bon Fenner reports growth to about 6-7" with rapid growth depending on feeding habits. I will be purchasing him today.... Pending an inspection.


- Ben -

[allan]

Dude!

Score! I hope it works out for you. That isn't too large of a fish. You should be able to handle him for awhile. Karin would have him full grown in a matter of months. :D

[Scutterborn]

I just called the dome to hold it for me pending an inspection and I was informed it sold yesterday evening.

:(
My mood has now been ruined. Is this a lesson to jump on instinct? I think not. It's aggravating nonetheless.

- Ben -

[Flyride95]

You know they have a frogfish that looks really close if not the same as that if I remember right at Texas tropical. It is in the back on there coral tanks.

[Scutterborn]

I'll check them out when I'm not pulling 16hr days.

I'm really bummed. I think it was a lurker on ARC. Apparently they had this guy for awhile and he was eating. When I advertised for them, he was gone within 3 1/2 hours...


- Ben -

[Flyride95]

Hey I went out today and took pics for you. I put them up for you when I get home.

[Scutterborn]

Sweet!


- Ben -

[Flyride95]

Here you go. There is 3 of them.

This is the first one. It is black and I couldnt take a god picture of him because he was way in the back in a tank that was low.
http://i47.tinypic.com/353cj92.jpg

Here is the second one. Sorry about the lights.
http://i48.tinypic.com/9vblzp.jpg

And here is the third and I have to say this one is my favorite by far.
http://i50.tinypic.com/2csi800.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/wgycsk.jpg

Sorry once again about the lights. The third one has a bit of red to him but it is washed out for some reason.

[Flyride95]

Btw that is just me clipping some quick pics with my phone. Sorry. They actually look much better then the pictures.

[Big_Pun]

sorry ben i sent emily over and bought all 3........

[Scutterborn]

The third one most closely resembles the one I'm looking for. The Antennarius maculatus is exact species I'm looking for. I'd need to see in person to know for sure. Thanks for the pics. It looks like I'm headed to TT.

Do you recall how much they were asking for it?


- Ben -

[Scutterborn]

sorry ben i sent emily over and bought all 3........

You sonofa....

Lol. :)


- Ben -

[Big_Pun]

You sonofa....

Lol. :)


- Ben -

ill let you feed one ;)

[Flyride95]

120$ But I believe they are flexible.

[Flyride95]

Maybe 100

I know almost all of them were 100

[Scutterborn]

That's twice what the dome sells them for!!

They have 3 inbound on their next order.


- Ben -

[Flyride95]

Yea that is why I havent bought one lol.

[Fishstix@JewelsOfTheSea]

Anglers are known to eat anything that they can fit into there mouths. Although their mouth seems small, trust me, they are not. They are not prejudice to friendly fish or aggressive fish, they will eat fish and shrimp. As for corals, they will simply sit on them and at times make them retract. Are they reef safe, yes if they are alone. Personally, not a good choice for a reef tank since what attracts people to tanks are movement and to see fish swimming. With an angler in your tank, they are very inactive and sorta just stalk around the tank and search for food.

[Scutterborn]

Anglers are known to eat anything that they can fit into there mouths. Although their mouth seems small, trust me, they are not. They are not prejudice to friendly fish or aggressive fish, they will eat fish and shrimp. As for corals, they will simply sit on them and at times make them retract. Are they reef safe, yes if they are alone. Personally, not a good choice for a reef tank since what attracts people to tanks are movement and to see fish swimming. With an angler in your tank, they are very inactive and sorta just stalk around the tank and search for food.

Correct. Their mouths can open up to 12x its closed size. The Shedd aquarium recorded their strike at 6 milliseconds. They are very sedentary creatures. Like the OP states, this guy will have his own species tank.


- Ben -

[reefreak]

Any luck with it Ben?

[Scutterborn]

Not yet. The order comes in Monday when they're closed. They call folks Tuesday if their on a list for something. Unfortunately I just found out today that I've got to fly out to Kentucky and pick up my new crane from the factory. It'll take the rest of the week to get back I'm assuming.


- Ben -