The Frogfish Files

[uberfugu]

Yes, Antennatus anglers are difficult to keep.

They are small and very reclusive. They are easily spooked. As mentioned before, they are susceptable to the normal forgfish maladies (Ich, velvet, rot), and, IME not really responsive to treatment.

The paradox is that they are best housed in a very small tank (for viewing and feeding ease) but they demand the most pristine water conditions that are associated with a large tank.

I had a chance to see Mr. Ugly's 40 gal divided tank. I think that it is a great set-up and it solves the issue of small captive quarters vs large water volume.

More Antennatus pics:

 

[tgcreef]

hey is 85 to hot for the wartskins or the Antennatus

 

[Reefcherie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7724453#post7724453 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoManMaster
hey is 85 to hot for the wartskins or the Antennatus

I may be erring on the side of caution, but I think 85 is too hot for all my reef creatures. I have my temperature controller set to kill the lights and heater if the tank hits 84. Obviously the inhabitants of shallow reefs and those that spent part of the day exposed have adapted to withstand higher temperatures, but since I'm not certain exactly where each of my critters came from and how they are adapted, I'd rather not chance it.

 

[uberfugu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7724848#post7724848 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefcherie
I may be erring on the side of caution, but I think 85 is too hot for all my reef creatures. I have my temperature controller set to kill the lights and heater if the tank hits 84. Obviously the inhabitants of shallow reefs and those that spent part of the day exposed have adapted to withstand higher temperatures, but since I'm not certain exactly where each of my critters came from and how they are adapted, I'd rather not chance it.

I agree with Cheri.

Many Antennariids are caught at lower (read slightly cooler) depths, 30-100 ft or deeper. I had an Antennatus pair supposedly caught at 120 feet.

I've had deaths when temps went beyond 82ºF (28ºC). This could have been caused or compounded by other factors (low O2, excess metabolites) as well.

I use a chiller/heater to keep temps at 75-78ºF (24-25.5ºC)

 

[Mr. Ugly]

I use 75-78 also. Even for reef, especially with Tonga stuff.

 

[tgcreef]

ok thanks just chechim because in my 6g eclipse i have the pc and there is no fan so no ventalation so it gets hot so i cut away the reflector for more vent but it only down to 82 so im thinkin of another plan but not sure yet

 

[tgcreef]

well went to wholesaler yesterday because they supposedly had some maculatus but didnt snag one but what i did get was a baby female watanbi!!!

-Tim

 

[uberfugu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7736216#post7736216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoManMaster
well went to wholesaler yesterday because they supposedly had some maculatus but didnt snag one but what i did get was a baby female watanbi!!!

-Tim

Genicanthus watanabei? If so Tim, you might want to think about a bigger tank. I had a female G. bellus and she ruled the 120.

 

[Kinetic]

yeah, the genicanthus, like other angelfish, need a very large tank. comparable to the smaller tangs needs in terms of space. they also eat A LOT, again much like anthias.

good thing is genicanthus are mostly reef safe since they are planktivores.

you need a very large tank for that guy.

 

[ClamIAm]

Here's a question: I have recently discovered that I have a bunch of those small white hydroids growing on the sides (and probably rocks) of my tank. Should I worry about my frogfish being bothered by these?

 

[tgcreef]

well he was only an inch and a half so i think he could fare in my tank and i have a place for him when bigger but anyway bad newsi went to go pick it up because friend from work had it and well he picked up 2 one medium and one small(mine) and he said that the medium got its but kicked by his male so he through the small one in there and they were cool together so i git left out because the other one is to big for my tank so im bummed out but they have been gettin a good amount in lately at the whole salers so im hopin to snag one

 

[uberfugu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7737108#post7737108 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ClamIAm
Here's a question: I have recently discovered that I have a bunch of those small white hydroids growing on the sides (and probably rocks) of my tank. Should I worry about my frogfish being bothered by these?

Shouldn't, but hydroids are a sign of excess nutrients.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7739039#post7739039 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoManMaster
well he was only an inch and a half so i think he could fare in my tank and i have a place for him when bigger but anyway bad newsi went to go pick it up because friend from work had it and well he picked up 2 one medium and one small(mine) and he said that the medium got its but kicked by his male so he through the small one in there and they were cool together so i git left out because the other one is to big for my tank so im bummed out but they have been gettin a good amount in lately at the whole salers so im hopin to snag one

I think you're better off with a frogfish.
You know, in Florida, Antennarius multiocellatus and Histrio histrio are caught. These shouldn't break the bank and are active and good looking too.

Really small Genicanthus angels have a notoriously poor survival rate in captivity.

Antennarius striatus (these guys just ate a big meal of Penaeus shrimp)

 

[Reefcherie]

Hopefully by now all you frogfish fans have viewed the July Reefkeeping magazaine Reefslides, "All Things Froggie" but if not, pull up a chair and enjoy!

 

[Mr. Ugly]

Uber pointed it out to me. Nice!

 

[smoney]

Finally I found a thread that specializes in ANGLERS!

I just put a bunch of zoos and a small frogspawn in the my new nano, now Im ready for my anglers.

I was wondering if I could put two of any anglers together.

Could I get a small White Collar Angler (Antennarius sp.) and one of equal size Black Angler (Antennarius commersoni)? or just two white and two black?
I would take them out once they got big enough.

I wanted to get them about 1" big.

 

[Mr. Ugly]

Hard to go by the names from the online sites. A lot of vendors aren't all that great in identifying anglers to species level.

Antennarius sp. could be pretty much anything, and not necessarily white. Commerson's or Giants come in all kind of colors. Not all black anglers are Commerson's.

I wouldn't keep Giants with other types of anglers. They're called giant for a reason

What size is your nano? You might possibly be able to keep more than one angler in a nano if they are small like Antennatus sp. or A. dorehensis or similar. The small ones tend to hide though. I tend not to like euphyllids with anglers. Especially if it's big enough to dominate the tank, or if you have strong water currents.

Pictus, maculatus, striatus, hispidus, mummifer, coccineus, are among the more commonly available Anntenarius. I generally would tend not to keep those in a nano.

If you keep multiple anglers, you have to make sure they are fed, but not overfed, which is tricky. Your tank should be set up so that the anglers can identify and stake out distinct territories and not be forced into a single microenvironment where aggression could be a problem. Keep pictus complex with pictus, and mummifer complex with mummifer.

If you're not familiar with keeping anglers, I'd recommend to start with just one. After you become familiar with their husbandry, and the specifics of a suitable angler system, then you'll know if you want to keep multiple anglers together.

 

[smoney]

I had a yellow wartskin angler before, but I overfed it. I have been researching them and now know some more about them.

I was looking at your site, and I saw your two anglers and it looked tight.
I want to do something like that.
Where'd you get them from? how much?

Can you keep hermits and snails with anglers as well?

 

[Reefcherie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7801286#post7801286 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smoney
Can you keep hermits and snails with anglers as well?

I have one hermit crab and quite a few snails of various shapes and sizes in with my angler - no problems there in my experience.

 

[smoney]

I clean my tank freequently like a mid-clean every week, and then a full service everyother week, so I dont think algae will get out of hand. Probably going to maybe put like 2-4 margarita snails in the tank?

 

[Texsun]

Unfortunately, our maculatus, King Tut, passed away a few weeks ago. Went away for the 4th and my tanked cooked in the heat - 88+ degrees! Very sad, especially since our toddler keeps asking where he is.

On a brighter note, picked up this little guy to replace him. That's an astrea snail shell to give you an idea of his size. Cute little bugger!