What is this cartoon looking fish all about? Lethotremus awae

myerst2

Active member
Hey all. I have seen these fish from time to time but have no idea what the deal is with them? What is it? What do they do? Looks like a Spongebob charachter. Name is Lethotremus awae. Pic below. T
fullSizeUpload_1233299042IMG_7873.jpg
 
I don't know too much about these little guys, but I know I saw a pic of a green one a while ago. If I remember correctly they're related to scorpionfish, but they're a bit smaller, and they feed on small crabs. Don't quote me on this though, I'm too lazy to search the interbutts right now
 
I had ordered a couple a few years back - they were so small we couldn't really keep them in with anything. Kept them at at around 52 degrees F. IIRC, they were fed on live brine and live mysids. My Japanese supplier had them on his latest list for 3000 Y - but that works out to be about $133 USD once I add in freight and fees - too expensive for a 1" fish!

Jay
 
ANNND,

Shoot! my supplier sent me one anyway! At the last minute, one of the other animals I had ordered was unshippable, and since there was space in the box, they thought they would do me a big favor and send me one. This one is bright lime green, about 3/4" long. I don't have a picture of it because it has a little suction cup on its belly, and I can't get it to move near the front of the cubicle its in... I tried pushing it with my fingertip but it just held on to the bottom of the tank with all its might, and I didn't want to hurt it.

Jay
 
A 10 in my "cuteness" scale. Thanks for thread, was fun to read and learn about them. Wiki's pic with a few holding to fingers is funny.
 
I don't remember the habitat, but I belive they are basically an ambush predator. A friend of mine had one before. I never saw him swimming much. He had it easy though, hanging out waiting for a free meal..
 
Very old thread, but the fish in question appears to be a Japanese Lumpsucker (Lethotremus awae).

Are these fish coldwater and if so what would be the tropicl equivelent? They maxed out my cutness meter

It's a coldwater species that feeds on polychaete worms, crustaceans, and mollusks with its tiny conical teeth. This fish lacks a swim bladder, and only posesses a cranial lateral line as opposed to one which runs the length of its body.

I see that Stu from Coldwater Marine Aquatics (Aquatic Engineer) has already posted in this thread, and he's the sharpest temperate/CW guy I know.
 
Our club here in socal had a great talk from one of the aquarists at the Long Beach aquarium. She specialized/ studied / bred the spiny lump suckers there. They are cool little animals.
 
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