The Frogfish Files

[Lev F.]

Hello,

Spectacular frogs everyone! Frogfish are awesome.
I acquired a new Frogfish about a week ago, and I'm having trouble Identifying it. Could you lend me a hand? Here's a (rather comical) video:




The store said Antennarius Nummifer, but I don't trust them...
Thanks in Advance!

 

[uberfugu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8495956#post8495956 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dragonet_Dude

I acquired a new Frogfish about a week ago, and I'm having trouble Identifying it. Could you lend me a hand?

The store said Antennarius Nummifer, but I don't trust them...

Nice video. Many LFS and online vendors misidentify anglers
(if you research Antennariidae you'll find many ichthyologists
throughout history have been incorrrect).

Many of the differentiating features are subtle and rely on
combinations thereof (e.g. fin-ray counts and illicium lengths).

That said, it looks to me like a nummifer

FishBase

 

[iamwhatiam52]

Are there any frogfish that stay small?
I'de like to keep one in a 12 gal, but I know most of them will get too big.

 

[uberfugu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9019358#post9019358 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iamwhatiam52
Are there any frogfish that stay small?
I'de like to keep one in a 12 gal, but I know most of them will get too big.

Antennarius pauciradiatus, A. randallii, A. dorehensis, and the Antennatus anglers stay small but they are rarely seen in the trade and often misidentified.

Antennarius maculatus, A. pictus, A. multiocellatus, A. nummifer, and A. coccineus grow to about 4-5"; this, IMO is kind of big for a tank under say 20 gallons but, with frequent waterchanges and stellar filtration, it has been done successfully.

The one caveat is to avoid an Antennarius commerson. Unfortunately, it can resemble the above mentioned candidates. It can/will grow to 10+" very quickly.

FishBase Antennarius list

 

[Texsun]

Hey uberfugu, what's the latest on your breeding projects? My Histiophryne released eggs last month but they were left unattended and eventually sucked into a powerhead intake. How often do yours spawn?

 

[iamwhatiam52]

Thank you uberfugu.
I'm in no rush, so I'll have time to be sure I get the right little monster. I was thinking of getting a gumdrop (I know it's not a frogfish) but they are too shy and don't have as much personality.
Can you give me an idea of how large to expect these species to get?

 

[BiggySmalls]

is there any frogfisah that can go alone in a 10g?

 

[BiggySmalls]

what are some good sites to find them on for cheap

 

[BiggySmalls]

is this one of the ones u listed?

is this one of the ones u listed?

http://http://www.premiumaquaticslive.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=194


if it doesnt work, it is on premium aquatics livestock page and it is the only angler

 

[reefD]

they all r pigs but remember! dont over feed! especially with these predators that exude high waste from any meal. i also luv to feed but i have found that adapting a fed less practise with anglers result in long term happy anglers. for a baseball sized angler..i feed once every five days..only one large silverside. lots of issues (like white spots) are associated with high feedings and degrading water quality in tanks. like new tanks cyclling cause we rushed a set up or crashes accure from feeding too much. just a thought.

 

[reefD]

consider small tanks as a obstacle as is. experts set up 10 gallon tanks and even then run into issues. nano for an angler sounds plausable but very very expert so if your just experimenting it wont work but if your an expert ..your vast knowledge will help all the constant issues you'll have.

 

[uberfugu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9021961#post9021961 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Texsun
what's the latest on your breeding projects? My Histiophryne released eggs last month but they were left unattended and eventually sucked into a powerhead intake. How often do yours spawn?

My Histiophryne haven't spawned since we moved last September. System is being run a little cooler (72ºF) so I expect that they'll start up in the spring when the tank temps go up to 75º. I had three separate males with eggs; hopefully, I'll get a viable spawn this year.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9022894#post9022894 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iamwhatiam52
I was thinking of getting a gumdrop (I know it's not a frogfish) but they are too shy and don't have as much personality.
Can you give me an idea of how large to expect these species to get?

If you're thinking of what I see advertised as a gumdrop angler, that is Antennatus tuberculatus, the tubercled frogfish. My largest was 2", fishbase says up to about 4" but that may be an error.

I've not had good luck with these guys. They have a high mortality rate and can be kinda pricey too.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9025268#post9025268 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefD
i have found that adapting a fed less practise with anglers result in long term happy anglers. for a baseball sized angler..i feed once every five days..only one large silverside. lots of issues (like white spots) are associated with high feedings and degrading water quality in tanks.

I agree David. I feed my adults once a week. Juvies get small amounts twice weekly.

 

[iamwhatiam52]

Caracanthus maculatus is the "Gumdrop" I was referring to.

http://www.saltcorner.com/1024/index1024.htm


By the way, what do you mean by "the Antennatus anglers"?

 

[Mr. Ugly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9026211#post9026211 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iamwhatiam52 By the way, what do you mean by "the Antennatus anglers"? [/B]

Here you go.

 

[uberfugu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9026211#post9026211 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iamwhatiam52
Caracanthus maculatus is the "Gumdrop" I was referring to.

By the way, what do you mean by "the Antennatus anglers"?

Ahh, Velvetfishes or coral crouchers are cool little scorpianfishes. They're pretty hardy and I haven't found them to be shy. BTW, Caracanthus madagascarensis is a little nicer (brighter colors) in my opinion.

Antennatus froggies (thanks Mr. Ug) are small, cryptic anglers sometimes called gumdrop anglers in the trade. Ultra cute but very reclusive and tentative feeders. I've had little luck keeping these guys alive past a few months. Probably better for my visa account (and the Antennatus population) that I don't keep them anymore.

Mr. Ugly, are your's still alive?

 

[adtravels]

New frogfish

New frogfish

Hi great thread I am about half way through the first half.
i have just aquired a new frog fish that is the only inhabitant of a 29 gallon tank
It has eaten 4 ghost shrimp I stopped as i did not want to over feed.
i have questions please could someone answer

1. what type is my frogfish?
2. what parsites are the susceptable
3. are conditioned mollies suitable foods as I cant get silversides here (I can get damsels very cheap though.
4. what is an acceptable breaths per minute rate for a healthy fish
5. the fish is just under 2 inches long how often and what size food will he need
6. are the dots on him likely to be camoflage or are the a parasite?
(very small dots)

Thanks

 

[uberfugu]

Re: New frogfish

Re: New frogfish

IME/IMO

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9094163#post9094163 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by adtravels
1. what type is my frogfish?

It looks to me like Antennarius pictus or a juvenile Antennarius commerson
The length of lure is more in line with commerson's description but there
is variability in collected specimens. Pictus will grow to 10 cm, commerson can
grow to 30 cm. Here are FishBase links:

A. commerson
A. pictus

2. what parsites are the susceptable

Cryptocaryon, Amyloodinium, Cirolanid isopods, Vibrio and Mycobacterium infections ... Most of the diseases and parasites that other marine fishes
encounter.

3. are conditioned mollies suitable foods as I cant get silversides here (I can get damsels very cheap though.

Conditioned, gut-loaded mollies will work but a varied and balanced diet is
important. Alternate with ghost shrimp and the occasional damsel (although
he will eat a damsel at his currrent size, it is probably too big for proper digestion)
If you're in Singapore, you probably have a variety of fresh safood items that
would be apropriate for this fish.

4. what is an acceptable breaths per minute rate for a healthy fish

This varies. At rest, normal respiration is 10 to 20 per minute. Much higher
if active or stressed.

5. the fish is just under 2 inches long how often and what size food will he need

I feed my frogfishes once a week, the really small ones (under 3 cm) will
get fed twice weekly. While they will eat items up to and even larger than
themselves, I think this is stressful on their digestive systems. I feed
items uo to half their body length.

6. are the dots on him likely to be camoflage or are the a parasite?
(very small dots)

Could be natural camouflage or could be Cryptocaryon. It is important
to quarantine these guys as they do come in with diseases and are
usually stressed from collection/travel/acclimation. Initially, I put mine
into a quarantine (alone) tank at 16 ppt (1.012) for 4 weeks.

Nice fish. Many black ones turn color for me after a few months.

 

[adtravels]

Thanks very thorough,
I have a 5 gallon qt that has a large external on it and has been set up for a while it has a mimic cleaner wrasse (blenny) in it at the moment (mistaken purchase that will be returning) will that be a good enough qt??
I can drop the sg no probs are there any theraputic treatments I could give him??

thanks again.

 

[uberfugu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9095220#post9095220 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by adtravels
I have a 5 gallon qt that has a large external on it and has been set up for a while it has a mimic cleaner wrasse (blenny) in it at the moment (mistaken purchase that will be returning) will that be a good enough qt??

Should be fine (minus the blenny of course!)

I can drop the sg no probs are there any theraputic treatments I could give him??

I prefer to do hyposalinity by itself and only treat for other issues (bacterial infections,
worming) if they are evident. I think it is really stressful to throw a bunch of medications
at the fish all at once.

While both Scott Michael's experience and my own testing has shown frogfishes
are sensitive to copper sulphate, I have been getting good results with copper
acetate (Cu2). I can't really recommend this until more testing is done and the
bioassay is completed.

 

[adtravels]

i PUT THE FISH IN THE QT THIS MORNING and have lowered the sg to 1.019 I will go to 1.014 tomorrow and 1.010 0n the next day does this sound ok?

The fish seems fine and is currently hiding in a plantpot
When should i feed him next and how much he was fed on saturday the 4 glass shrimps.

again thanks I want this fish to live which is why I am so keen on the qt.