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FAQs about Anglerfish, Frogfish Behavior
Related Articles: Anglerfishes,
Related FAQs: Anglers 1,
Anglers 2, Angler ID,
Angler Compatibility, Angler
Selection, Angler Systems,
Angler Feeding, Angler Disease,
Angler Reproduction, | 
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Frogfishes / anglerfishes... Sel., beh., hlth. gen. -11/18/07
Hi people -
<Rachel>
I was reading over your Q&A page for
frogfishes (aka anglerfishes, but this common name is usually reserved
for the entire order, Lophiiformes).
<Ahh! Yes>
I think your
website is wonderful and a joy to read.
If I may, I would just like
to comment a little on the Q&A for frogfishes.
<Please do>
The
inside of the mouth of a frogfish is quite varied; it can be the normal
pale color you might expect, or the tissue could be differently colored
and look like algae (many times black and white!) - all part of the
fish's camouflage
<And lure strategy>
(can't have that prey item
scared away at the gaping mouth of the frogfish, since they rarely close
it all the way in order to keep water circulating over their gills).
Lumpy frogfish - consider that A. maculatus (the clown or Wartskin
frogfish) is, well, many times warty. So if your readers have purchased
A. maculatus and are perplexed by its cancerous tumors filled with skin
parasites, please assure them that this is perfectly natural. Another
side note being that most frogfishes have a small bump on their lower
lip right smack dab in the center. This shouldn't be abnormally huge
(such as the size of a pea), but it is noticeable.
It can also get
pink and inflamed if they're constantly hitting up against the glass of
the aquarium.
<Well-stated>
Air bubbles beneath the surface - this
does seem to be a problem, albeit rare, in most frogfishes. I would
venture to say that it is more common in the pygmy frogfishes
(Antennatus - note that this is different from the genus Antennarius :)
) often collected from Hawaii.
Hearing about gas bubbles problems in
fishes that have been well-established in their tanks makes me wonder if
they're more prone to the 'gas bubble disease' as it is called in sea
horses. Most are rather shallow (<90m), but they aren't built to go up
and down in the water column, and their natural habitat is hidden within
the benthic fauna (exception being H. histrio...perhaps this is the
reason why H. histrio does exceptionally well in the aquarium
comparatively).
<Interesting speculation. I agree>
Air bladders -
most genera in Antennariidae have air bladders, but some do not. The
ones people are usually concerned with in the aquarium hobby do have
them.
<Although diminished in relative size>
Swallowing water/air
- I know it happens, but that fish has got to under quite a bit of
stress/sick/dying. I've pulled frogfishes out of the water, clipped a
tiny bit of one of their fins (DNA), and put them back in without ever
having a frogfish do this to me.
Hardy fish - for up to a year,
generally (depending on the species...certainly not Antennatus, which is
lucky to make it past 30 days). Many people can't get them past this
point and there appears to be no apparent reason why currently. They are
not known to be ich prone (except Antennatus), but if the tank or
tankmates are infected you can probably bet it'll become infected as
well.
Frogfish 'yawn' from time to time - nobody knows why.
<I do
think this is very much "stress related"... see them "yawn" more the
closer and longer they're approached underwater>
When purchasing a
frogfish - if your readers get anything from this message - avoid
Antennatus at all costs. It's probably the cutest little one of all the
frogfishes, but it has major issues with longevity in captivity, if it
even makes it that far. Unfortunately, I've never seen a frogfish
labeled as anything but Antennarius, since it's the most common, so if
you're going to purchase one try to identify it at least to genus.
Antennarius and Lophiocharon are pretty much the only genera you're
going to find in the U.S. that are suitable for aquariums.
Cheers
<Thank you very much for this valuable input. Will post/share. Bob
Fenner>
Commerson's Frogfish with internal mouth mass – 10/04/07
Dear Wet
Web Media,
<Tina>
I have just purchased a Commerson’s Frogfish
that is about 5” in length.
I have noticed when he opens his mouth,
that he seems to have small raised white and black lumps or masses
inside. Is this normal?
<Mmm, no... Quite often, when approached, or
otherwise apparently "over" stressed, Anglers, Scorpaeniform fishes and
others will "yawn"... so have looked into quite a fews' maws... No such
observation>
If not, what could it be and what can be done about it?
<Don't know... good care in general...>
Thanks for your help.
Best
Regards,
Tina
<Bob Fenner> Angler Lifespan
2/20/07
Bob,
<Dale>
I saw you at last years New Wave..
DFWMAS (Dallas/Fort Worth). You were certainly the most entertaining
speaker.
<Heee! I like that euphemism!>
I'm awaiting the arrival
of hopefully either A. pictus or A. striatus at a couple of LFS's I
asked to order me one. I have read recently that the lifespan of Anglers
in the home aquarium are short, and to consider a few months "success".
What should I consider the average lifespan of an Angler?
<Mmm, have
known some folks, aquariums to keep for several years... Can/do grow
VERY quickly given a bunch (too much, too frequent) feeding... and
related circumstances do way-too-often lead to their early demise... but
aren't short lived>
If he's small enough he'll stay in a 75
community for the next several weeks until the 60 gallon is ready for
him alone.
<I see...>
I just lost my first octopus, O.
mercatoris, after 4 months, not knowing how old/young it could have
been.
<These species are indeed short-lived>
Considering that
species only lives an average 6-8 months I thought that was "successful"
with it. I don't care to spend my effort and money on an animal that is
destined to be short lived at this time.
Dale Tyler
<Do make it
known how your Angler is faring. Bob Fenner> Angler feeding,
behavior 2/1/06
Hi, I have some questions about
anglers. I've had a small angler (Antennarius pictus, as best I can
tell) in a species-only for about 5 months now. He's been doing well,
really enjoys eating ghost shrimp and guppies (he initially took
silversides on a feeding stick but seems to have wised up and gotten
picky again). That's actually the first question. I know it's generally
recommended that one not use freshwater feeder organisms for SW fish,
but in my research I've read that guppies are ok. Is there anything
better to feed an angler?
<Mmm, clean marine fishes... live or
frozen/defrosted, wiggled...>
Next, the real issue I'm wondering
about. When I bought him, he was jet black with little white warty lumps
(friends even thought it was ick but it wasn't). In the ensuing time,
he's changed completely. He's now mottled light brown with small
eyespot-like designs.
<Yep... do change to match local conditions...
camouflage...>
His behavior hasn't changed at all, he's still spry,
reactive and hungry and readily deploys his pole. I'm wondering, is this
a typical change or is it something to be concerned about?
<The
former>
I don't know the extent or purpose of anglers' camo ability.
Now, his environment consists of white LS, a few small bits of LR, and
two fake perches: a small green Turbinaria-like thing and a little brown
rocky outcropping that he sits behind.
Any causes for concern? Any
other related info you might recommend for his care? I definitely love
tackling the unusual fish, but want to give him as much TLC as
possible...hideous toad though he may be.
Best,
Alex
<Great
aquarium fishes... Bob Fenner> Black Giant Frogfish
(Commerson's Anglerfish)
Hi All,
Is it possible for the
giant black frogfish to change color to red? I have read articles
regarding this species that say they frequently change their colors to
camouflage themselves to blend into their surroundings . Does that mean
they can make such a drastic change?
<Not drastic. Likely takes a few
months. Do "come in" a variety of colors depending on their living
circumstances>
For example: if the black giant frogfish is placed in
a tank with red sponge and colored corals, will it most likely change to
this color? Is the Black Giant Frogfish different from the red? Thanks
for the info.
<Same species. Bob Fenner>
Kelly
Re: Black
Giant Frogfish (Commerson's Anglerfish)
Hi Bob,
It's good to
hear from you. I did end up getting the Titan Triggerfish from the
Marine Center, he is thriving and quite entertaining.
<Ah, good.
Titans in many ways>
Will a giant black frogfish change its color to
red over time if placed in an aquarium with red sponge?
<Possibly. I
do think this happens more readily in the wild. Bob Fenner>
Kelly
Growth rates of Frogfishes
Dear Crew:
How fast does a
painted frogfish grow? I have one that is 2 1/2 inches and can
hardly wait to see him grow up:) He's a real beaut.......here's a
pic to make you smile:)
<Very nice, and very quickly. Really
amazing how fast these fishes (antennariids) can grow given large
quantities of food. Bob Fenner>
Janey |
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Re: How big?
Dear Crew:
How large does a painted frogfish
get? In Scott Michael's Marine Fishes book he says, 3.9 inches, same as
the warty frogfish in size. In Reef Fishes, Volume 1 it says 9.4
inches. What is the correct size?
TIA
Janey
<More like the
second than the first value. Bob Fenner> Puffed up Anglerfish -
12/27/03
Hi a have a 72 gallon aquarium which has a large
lionfish a large yellow tang and a striated anglerfish. I have had the
anglerfish for about 2 months and feed him a cube of reef formula 2
every other day or so. I have seen him puff up twice in the past just
like a porcupine puffer would... but today we came home and he was lying
in the corner bottom upside down puffed up. He is breathing but will not
expel anything yet. he's been like this at least 2 hours. Any idea what
is going on? Anything I can do to help him? Your help would be greatly
appreciated.
<Sorry for the slow reply to this urgent
question! Please do report back how your fish is doing. Frogfishes and
anglers do have a habit of gulping air, but I don't know about
water. It does seem intuitive that they might, though. If it has
gulped air, this can be lethal, but I suspect that it will deal with
water just fine. Adam>
thanks, Mike Re: puffed up
anglerfish 12/30/03
well he died a few hours later.
<Sorry to
hear.>
he has puffed up before like that but only for 30 seconds or
so. i have read that anglers puff up like that in a defense mechanism as
puffers do.
<The only reference I could find to this was that they
occasionally gulp air in shipping and float to their death. It makes
sense that they might also gulp water. I suspect that the stress that
led to the gulping had more to do with the death than the gulping
itself.>
sometimes that anglerfish would swim up and down the glass
and earlier that day i noticed him swimming up and down near my
extremely large black Volitans lionfish. i think since he did die
that maybe he swam into the lionfish and got stung...???
<Possible,
but it sounds like your fish probably would not have made it anyway.>
i had a really hard time finding that fish if i get another one i will
keep it alone.
<Probably a wise choice. I also highly recommend
obtaining it from a reputable dealer who will allow you to place it on
hold for several days. Adam>
Mike Miller
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