Scorpion Leaf Fish Feeding

[rpritch]

So I just pick up a scorpion leaf from the LFS today. Only $15!!

Anyway, does someone have some insight on net feeding? How can I train him to take live ghost shrimp from a net.

The little guy shares a 30 gallon with two small Green Spotted Puffers. Needless to say, they get to the shrimp before he does!

 

[rpritch]

I stand corrected.... <45 minutes in the tank and he ate the ghost shrimp that my puffers couldn't get!

 

[namxas]

Expecting a brand new fish to eat right when it hits the tank is a bit hopeful, but I'm glad it ate for you.

Training your fish to a net is pretty simple...you put the food item in the net and let the fish see what's in the net. It will eventually run to the net each time it sees one, which normally doesn't take long at all.

If you haven't read it, there's a section in THIS ARTICLE about net training.

BTW, the fish shown in the photo is looking into an empty net, which suggests how well trained they can become.

Be careful of your puffers picking at the leaf fish...

 

[rpritch]

The only reason that I put food in the tank was for the puffers. I had no expectations that the leaf fish would eat. I was pleasantly surprised.

Aren't leaf fish poisonous? I was under the impression that the puffers would leave him alone for that reason.

 

[jarrod13]

They are venomous, not poisonous.

The puffer doesn't know whether it's venomous or not. Puffers will sample almost anything to see if its eadible, which could hurt either fish or even both.

 

[namxas]

As Jarrod mentioned, the leaf fish is a scorpionfish, and as such has venomous dorsal and ventral spines. However, I can't say I've ever heard of anyone getting popped by a leaf fish...you'd have to try pretty hard, as their fins are on the "floppy" side and tend to lay over rather than poke you.

FWIW, some puffers are poisonous...

 

[rpritch]

Well everyone seems to be doing well. The puffers pay the leaf fish not attention.

What's the difference between poisonous and venomous?

 

[jarrod13]

In a short untechnical answer, poison has to be secreated, like that of a boxfish or sea cucumber. Venom has to be injected, like fangs of a spider or snake, or spines of a fish ;-)

 

[rpritch]

Thanks! As a beginner, I like "short" and "untechnical" answers!