Clown frogfish

Care at a glance

Overview

A clown frogfish does best in its own small species tank of around 75 litres or more with rock and open bottom, at 24 to 27 C and pH 8.0 to 8.4. It ignores corals but is a pure predator that will eat any fish or shrimp it can fit in its mouth, so it cannot be trusted with tankmates. Feed with tongs or a feeding stick, starting on live saltwater shrimp and weaning onto thawed silversides and shrimp. Do not overfeed, as they will gorge until they harm themselves.

In the wild

The clown frogfish is a lumpy, warty ambush predator that comes in white, yellow, orange or red with dark scribbles, mimicking a sponge or piece of rubble. It has modified pectoral fins it uses like hands to perch and creep along the bottom. On its head sits a tiny fishing rod and lure it wiggles to draw prey within reach.

Good to know

Antennarius maculatus reaches around 15 cm and hunts using a modified first dorsal spine, the illicium, tipped with a fleshy lure that mimics a small fish or shrimp. It has one of the fastest strikes in the animal kingdom, engulfing prey in a few thousandths of a second by suddenly opening its huge mouth. It can swallow prey nearly as large as itself.

Did you know

A hunting frogfish can open its mouth and suck in prey in about six thousandths of a second, one of the quickest feeding strikes ever measured in a fish.

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