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FAQs about Anglerfish, Frogfish
Foods/Feeding/Nutrition
Related Articles: Anglerfishes,
Related FAQs: Anglers 1,
Anglers 2, Angler ID,
Angler Behavior, Angler
Compatibility, Angler Selection,
Angler Systems, Angler Disease,
Angler Reproduction, Always eager
eaters of live/moving foods. | 
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Questions on Antennatus tuberosus... sys., fdg. 12/23/08
Happy Holidays WWM Team!
<And to you and yours Art>
Please allow
me to first say thank you for all you do for us, sharing your knowledge
to the head scratchers all over the world.
<Heee, am one myself>
I
now come with my curiosity on my frogfish (Antennatus tuberosus). I've
had this fella for 3 months now, originally in a 55 gallon with 3 inches
sand and 50-ish lbs of live rock, with a Domino Damsel about 2.5X his
size and a Scooter Blenny. The first two months he ate his worth of
feeder shrimp, 3 or so per week.
The past month I moved him over to
his very own 8 gallon nano reef with 2.5 inches of sand and 10-ish lbs
of live rock. If it makes a difference, coral includes 5 half-dollar
sized mushrooms and a frag of pagoda. There's also Chaeto the size of a
fist to help with water quality. I feed using tweezers.
It seems it
only eats about 2 (lately only one) shrimp per week now, and on split
feedings (1 at middle of the week, 1 at the end). Is this common?
Could the nano be the culprit? Should I even be worried?
<Mmm... I'm
always leery of potential problems with small volumes... they can/do
change chemically, physically... and hence biologically much too quickly
at times... and though not at all fast moving, Anglers do produce goodly
amounts of waste... How big is this individual? It is likely "small
enough", as the species tops out at 9 cm.:
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=11150>
I
acknowledge that this species is not commonly found in the trade.
Consequently, there aren't too many care sheets for the Antennatus
species online as well. I've even checked Fishbase and even frogfish.ch,
but not to much avail. If there's any special requirements for the
Antennatus that I could use, I'd greatly appreciate the help. Thank you
in advance :-)
Warmest Wishes,
Art F.
<Mmm, I have never seen
this fish offered in the trade... I think it should be fine in the small
tank, but maybe the Cnidarians are mal-affecting it some way... If in
doubt, I would move it back to the 55, even a refugium tied into a
larger system. Using willingness to take food for Frogfishes is a good
indicator of health IMO/E. Bob Fenner> Re: Angler Feeding
11/7/08
Hey Scott, got another question for you concerning
my angler fish, he's about an inch and a half long and decently
active-fishing around the tank and what not. I put smaller fish in the
tank, a couple of damsels for him to feed on, and I feed all occupants
ghost shrimp as a live food source over frozen twice a week. I've had
him for over 2 weeks and to my knowledge he hasn't eaten once.
<Was
the end of each shrimp accounted for? Have you ever seen this fish eat?
Is a good idea before purchase.>
How often should he eat, and should
I supply another type of live food source for him-guppies maybe?
<These should be eating every few days, but it is not unheard of for a
hunger strike to last weeks. Considering all the change in your tank as
of late it is not surprising. Try different foods, check
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/anglerfdgfaqs.htm.
Do keep in mind
any frozen foods will need to be presented as live, with some wiggle to
it! Scott V.> Re: Angler Feeding 11/7/08
Thanks for the info., I never asked the pet store if he ate-that would
have been a good call, I'll know next time!
<Always a good question,
better to see it yourself!>
Since asking the question, one of the
damsels has gone missing and the Angler appears to be bigger in size-I
hope this is a sign of him feeding.
<Sounds like it.>
I do keep a
varied diet for my fish, and don't mind feeding him damsels and Chromis
verses dead on a pole. His coloring and active nature seems to fit well
in my tank. I'll keep you posted!
<Please do.>
Thanks again, Ole.
<Happy to have helped. Scott V.>
Frogfish Not Eating – 9/29/07
<Hello, Brenda here>
I have this
frogfish and it is very sick. I noticed it today and would like to know
what is wrong with it. The frog fish is 2.5 inches and has been living
in a 15 gallon tank for 1 month.
<This is an extremely small tank for
this fish. Is this your quarantine tank? A 15g tank is likely very
stressful on this fish.>
It recently stopped eating and its skin has
started to turn crusty and black.
<Is a common problem for these
fish.>
Every time I feed him he just starts coughing it out. He also
has been acting weird like swimming around a lot which is weird because
he never does that. I know he is not trying to camouflage, he has never
turned black. I am not able to identify what kind of frogfish it is
because the place where I bought it said it was assorted. I feed it
krill and I just changed the water yesterday.
<Have you tested your
water parameters? Try feeding live saltwater feeder shrimp. More
information on these fish can be found here:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=76&N=0 and
here
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/anglerfdgfaqs.htm Brenda>
Sargassum Fish 4/14/07
First off, I would like to say you
all do a great service to the fish lovers everywhere. Keep up the good
work.
<Am trying>
I just got quick question about my new
Sargassum fish. I was feeding my Panther grouper 16"L some goldfish of a
snack.
<Not a good idea... see WWM re Feeding Feeders...
http://wetwebmedia.com/goldfshfd.htm
and the linked files above>
I through
<threw>
in about 5 in and my angler ate 2 of them.
He's 4" long and is eating silver sides very well. He was right up
against the glass and I saw a breathing hole under each of his pectoral
fins. I never saw them before. Do they use them all the time or just
when there full?
<Mmm, more when they're full...>
Thanks Matt
Owens
<Neat animals... Bob Fenner> Frogfish/Snowflake
Eel 1/2/07
Greetings to the WWM crew!
<Hi Gretchen,
Pufferpunk here.>
I've a small problem, I think I've fallen in love
with a frog fish!
<Certainly can't blame you on that one! I'm crazy
about these weird, wonderfully camouflaged, lumbering, creatures
myself.>
I saw 2 at my LFS a few days ago and have been
searching the Wet Web site as well as the web in general, for
information since. (Thanks for all the information on the species on
your site!) What I'm curious about is if I could keep one in with my
snowflake eel, and if so which would be the "best" suited for such a
pairing? The eel (Ichi) currently is in a 125 gal tank with plenty of
rock and tubes for him to hide in. He's about 18 inches long, shares his
tank with a few hermit crabs and snails and seems to be very docile
almost shy. He used to share his tank with a burrfish and they got
along fine! (Burrfish died of parasites over a year ago. We were
heartbroken, and this is the first thing I've seen that I might like to
add into the tank.)
<I think this is the best tank mate for a
frogfish. Their teeth are flat, like a person's (for eating
crustaceans), not sharp (for tearing into flesh), like other
morays. Been doing a lot of research myself, since I bought a Wartfin
frogfish last week, with my X-mas $$$. I really wanted to get a
snowflake eel & a Fu Manchu lionfish but after researching the FAQs at
WWM, I saw several Qs where it ended badly, with the frogfish getting
stung by the lion. I certainly don't want that to happen to my little
guy!>
One of the things I keep seeing is that frogfish are difficult
to get adjusted to non-live foods. Ichi gets fed frozen/thawed/soaked in
vitamins krill, squid, shrimp, clams and the occasional live crab or
ghost shrimp. Is a frogfish likely to get picky about the mix of live
and non-live food? (I recall reading something about that happening on
another site.)
<Exactly my problem now. I have had the frogfish for
a week. I've been bouncing foods off a thread & hooked it on the tank,
so it moves with the current & she won't bite. I do see her "fishing"
upside down in the live rock & I know there are live creatures in there
to keep her fed but eventually, that will run out. I am getting
concerned & will probably get some ghost shrimp & gut-load them with
foods & feed them to her for some sustenance. I hear they are supposed
to have voracious appetites & hope she takes "dead" foods soon.>
I'm
trying to find out as much as I can first, and know better than to hurry
into any kind of purchase!
<You may want to ask to see it eat at the
store, to be sure it eats dead foods. I took their word for it when I
asked, because she had supposedly been fed that day.>
Thanks, in
advance for any information/suggestions you may have!
Happy New
Year!
<Happy New Year to you too & good luck with your
frogfish! ~PP>
Gretchen Trouble Feeding Frogfish
11/18/06
I purchased my first frogfish about a week ago. The LFS
where I purchased him had been feeding the frogfish feeder guppies and
ghost shrimp. I know that an all freshwater diet can lead to gut
blockage,
<Can...>
so as a welcome home present, I added two
damsels. Unfortunately, they've seen him move around and won't go
anywhere near him.
<Smart fish>
He'll get up and swim around the
tank occasionally, but has no luck catching them. He was previously in a
6 or 8g nanocube, so perhaps there's just too much room or live rock for
the damsels to escape to.
<Maybe>
I tried using ghost shrimp and
guppies but he shows no interest. The shrimp even crawl over him. I
tried wiggling a guppy near his face, even then he didn't bite. I know
they're not suppose to be fed frequently anyway, but I assume he's
hungry since he has stuck out his lure a few times.
<Not necessarily
indicative of a great hunger though>
Should I be concerned that he
still hasn't ate? Do you have any suggestions on how to feed him?
<Mmm, you state it's only been a week or so... I would not be overly
concerned here... Even a quite small Antennariid specimen can/will go
w/o feeding for weeks. Keep on trying and all should be fine. Bob
Fenner>
Feeding a Sargassum Frogfish - 11/12/06
Hey,
<<Hey!>>
I have a 5-gallon eclipse nano that has been established
for about a year, it has about 18w of power compacts that I retrofitted
into the hood. Up until now it has been empty aside from live rock and
coral. I had been waiting to find a fish that I thought was interesting
enough to keep in a species tank.
<<Mmm, must be honest with you...I
am not a fan of these tiny tanks, especially where "marines" are
concerned>>
After a chance encounter with a frogfish in a LFS I
started to do some more research and I found that with proper husbandry
some people have had success keeping them in small tanks like my own.
<<But what does "some people" entail? 1 in 50? 3 in 100? ...doesn't
bode well for the frogfish, eh? Sedentary species or not, this fish is
deserving of larger quarters...as much for the increased stability a
larger system would afford as anything else>>
That being said, I
recently bought a 3-inch Sargassum frogfish from the LFS that I have had
for about 2-weeks now and he seems to be flourishing.
<<...?>>
I
was wondering how much and often I should feed him.
<<For best
health/longevity, infrequent small feedings seem to be best>>
I have
been feeding "Snuggles" every other day one live guppy and a ghost
shrimp, however I have heard of some people feeding up to a half dozen
shrimp a couple times a week.
<<Best to stay away from "freshwater"
food items...you may want to try to train this fish to feed from a
"feeding stick" and vary the diet with marine fish flesh, squid, etc.,
but do resist the urge to "overfeed">>
I have heard that overfeeding
can lead to rapid growth (not to mention water quality problems),
<<Indeed...Bob says it can double its size in a week (another reason to
provide this fish with a larger tank!)>>
and with my setup that is
not what I want, my 30-gallon is not nearly "angler-proof" and I would
hate to have to shift fish around.
<<Hmm...maybe just get a
40-gallon (or larger) home for the angler>>
What would you suggest
as a "middle-ground" solution to my feeding issues?
<<As already
stated...small feedings a couple/several days apart…adjust as the fish
grows>>
Thanks for your help!
Erik Henderson
<<Happy to
share my opinion. Eric Russell>> Feeding Warty Frogfish
(Antennarius maculatus)
Hello Crew,
<You have Leslie here
this evening.>
I work at a small LFS and have the opportunity to
purchase a medium (2 inch) Antennarius maculatus (warty frogfish).
<How exciting!!>
It will arrive tomorrow and I've already got a tank
(cycled of course) set up just for him. I've been interested in these
for a long time and researched these fish for the last few months
because I've always been fascinated with them and wanted one for myself.
I've come upon a question which I believe will help many and I also
believe you may be able to help me with this. What should I feed? A
simple question with a seemingly simple answer...live foods (until I can
train to frozen of course). But, I've heard of people successfully
keeping them on fresh water fish and saltwater fish. I've also heard
downsides to both.
1. FW fish can carry pathogens that can harm SW
fish.
2. SW fish can also carry diseases easily spread to other SW
fish.
What would be the biggest cause of concern?
<Both are a
cause of concern.>
What do you (or would you) feed to such a fish?
<Healthy live or frozen defrosted marine fish.> Which type of food has
the greater risk?
<FW fish that have not been appropriately
quarantined. Please see the following article..
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/goldfshfd.htm.>
Our "feeder" fish are
most definitely healthy because I do two 50% water changes per week and
feed high quality food to all of our fish (I do this because I've seen
regular "feeder" tanks and they absolutely disgust me).
<That is
wonderful. Good water quality and nutrition are 2 steps in the right
direction. However your marine fish requires marine fish for proper
nutrition.>
Should I feed "feeder" mollies, guppies, or gold fish?
Or, should I stick with damsels, Chromis, etc.?
<Damsels and Chromis
that have been quarantined 4 weeks are the preferred choice until you
can train to frozen food.>
Any other tips on keeping these would be
greatly appreciated!
<Have a look at the following article and
associated FAQs…http://www.wetwebmedia.com/anglerfishes.htm>
Thank you for your time, Brandon
<You’re most welcome. Best of luck
with your new wet pet, Leslie> Anglers... feeding mostly
4/29/06
Bob (or other WWMedianaut), thanks for the site. I want
to know whether/when I should worry about my angler eating...I was
thinking
about six days(?)... First, the facts... I have
a frogfish, A. multiocellatus I believe. I bought him two days
ago...eats dead food, I saw him hand fed shrimp at the store with
no hesitation. Store said he had been eating every day. He is about 4
inches.
He now lives in my 20 long... with two shrimp a small clown
(I know they will get eaten).
<Yes>
He has not eaten since I
bought him, instead he has been stalking my clown. My clown is too smart
(for now) to swim
near him. Cutie Pie (the angler) won't
eat food dangled in front him with a stick or hand. I am worried he is
passing up the dead stuff so
he won't give away his
position to the clown...and that he will do this until he starves.
<Mmm...>
How long should I wait before I get worried about him
starving?
<Depends on this fish's "index of fitness"... How "chubby"
it started... but another week or two>
Is two days too soon to
worry?
<Mmm, yes and no... that is, worrying won't change the
future, but if you're concerned...>
I don't want him to die, I'd
rather take him back to the store (they said they would take him back).
Thanks Bob!
Rod
<I would move either the angler or its present
tankmates. 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>
Angler and "Feeder" fish
I need some help! Two weeks ago I
purchased a colored angler (bright red, about 6 inches long) from the
local pet store. Everything was
going great. He was eating at least
two feederfish per day. Yesterday when I got home, he was laying on his
side, gasping and his color had
faded. Shortly there after he
passed. I took samples of my water to the pet store and they said that
everything was ok. I have a 120 gal
tank with a 55 gal ecosystem for
filtration and a UV sterilizer. The other fish, small Longhorn Cow,
small Lionfish, Stars and Stripes
Puffer, Yellow Tang, Algae Blenny,
small Banded Cat Shark, in my tank are doing fine and show no signs that
anything is wrong.
This is the second time I have purchased an angler
with disastrous results. What do think could be the problem?
Jim
<Almost undoubtedly the "feeder fish". Please see here re:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/goldfshfd.htm
not nutritious, and
dangerous in composition and in terms of physical blockage. Bob Fenner>
-Getting a frogfish to eat-
Greeting! I recently purchased an
orange angler fish I identified as Antennarius pictus, he's about 3" in
length and has a 20gal tank to himself. He is very active and constantly
entertaining, but I have a few questions regarding feeding. He will only
take live food at this time, comet feeders and barely takes live mysids.
<You should always make sure that these (and any other fish for that
matter) are eating dead marine foods before you buy them. Always see it
personally, don't take any of that "eh, bob fed them yesterday and it
ate great!" BS. :) > I know that comet feeders are horrible for him and
prolonged feeding will cause him gut blockage and I have heard liver
damage as well. I have tried using a tool to attach small dead
silversides but he is wise to my game, he doesn't mind the rod but he
can (I imagine) smell the prepared food and backs away from it. So I end
up with a few questions. Since live mysids are only seasonal here and
expensive, is there a better live feeder I can feed, such as guppies,
mollies, or convicts? <Not really, besides say green Chromis> Or should
I quit feeding freshwater fish to him entirely. <He must eat something,
but doesn't need to eat constantly. Just a few times per week is enough,
all the while wiggling and dangling frozen thawed krill, silversides,
prawn, etc in front of his face. You could also try putting a dead
feeder on the rod to make the connection for him!> Feeding him damsels
will put me in the poor house so that's not a viable option either. And
if I starve him long enough (I feel bad about this) will he be more opt
to take prepared food from a rod device? <Eh, that's questionable> I
tried not feeding him for 3 days and then trying attached food and even
made it wiggle but he was not interested. <You really need to have the
chow do the "look at me, I'm alive! no really, I am!" jig right in front
of his face.> I really want to keep this fish healthy and happy, so any
advice would really help me out. <Keep on trying! Good luck! -Kevin>
Thanks.
Julian Harkema
Salem Oregon
|
Frogfish Question
I just purchased a Commerson's Frogfish
this afternoon that I call "Bubba." Bubba is about 5 1/2 inches
long right now and will eventually top out around 11 1/2
inches. How fast do they grow?
<With feeding (as much as
daily...) a bunch! As in right before your eyes... an inch every few
months... no joke>
When will he be full grown?
<Define "full".
To the maximum stated... two, three to several years... I strongly
suggest very infrequent, small feedings to keep this animal
manageable and long-lived>
Months, years? He's currently in a 29
gallon but will be moved into my 75 gallon reef (as the only fish)
when he outgrows the 29.........
<It's already past this tank
size... Would move it quick>
Just wondered when that might
be. Is it true that you can keep two Commerson's of the same size
together without the worry of cannibalism?
<Mmm, not really...
frogfishes are only found "in association" with others of their own
or other kind by accident or if they're a "spawning pair"... best to
keep solitarily>
Thanks for the help:) Janey
<Thanks for
asking. Bob Fenner> |
Struggling
with Frogfishes 2/17/05
I've been keeping frogfish unsuccessfully
for past year. I've kept from warty to giant frogfish but all died after
a few weeks.
<Hmmm... do understand and apply proper quarantine
procedure first... 4 weeks in QT on are bottom and with medicated feed
if needed. Preventative med.s as well>
In the 1st few weeks, they are
fine, feeding on damsels or gobies. After about 3-4 weeks,
<do
consider a non marine fish prey instead to reduce the risk of commuting
disease. Palaemonetes ghost shrimp gut-loaded may be better feeder
"fishes">
I noticed rapid breathing and a few experienced cloudy
eyes, and stop eating.
<could be water quality or disease... general
symptoms>
In 1 case, my black angler was fine the night before but
died the next morning without any cloudy eye symptom. Currently, I have
a giant angler which is 9 inches. I bought him 2 weeks ago. Last week,
he ate 2 damsels. This week, it did not eat and did not even extend its
lure when the damsels swam past him. The tank it lives in is 4 ft and
the water is kept at 24 degrees with a chiller. The water is checked
every week and nitrate level is very low. Please help me. How long
can it stay without food?
<many weeks>
Is there any cure if I
notice it's rapid breathing?
< do read the archives about parasites
and gill disease... you may need to medicate here... also QT your feeder
fishes for a minimum of 4 weeks before feeding as prey to insure they
are clean/disease free so to speak>
Thanks Serene
<best regards!
Anthony>
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