New Frogfish: Antennarius hispidus

[andywg]

Some of you may have seen my thread about my resident frogfish (Antennarius striatus).

Well, today I was in a fish store I don't normally frequent and even rarer purchase from. I was looking at the lionfish species they have while planning a FOWLR when I noticed a frogfish sitting in one of the tanks trying to lure at a shoal of fish in the next tank.

Naturally I had to have him. He is temporarily housed in the refugium of my reef tank and will soon move to a tank of his own. This first picture shows how similar he is to my existing one:

The new frog is an Antennarius hispidus so should stay a little smaller than the existing frog. The two species actually make up the Antennarius striatus group which lies within the Antennarius genus. I do not expect anything much greater than 6" in captivity.

The main difference between the two is that A. striatus has a worm-like esca (or lure) whereas that of A. hispidus is more like a pom-pom. I do not have a picture of the new one luring, but here is one of the old one to show the worm-like esca.

Another difference in the lures is that while A. striatus has scent glands in the lure to even more entice prey (particularly at night) some specimens of A. hispidus have been observed with bio-luminescent lures. Finally, A. striatus tend to have more filamentous growth and thus look more "shaggy".

The face on pictures below also show a different structure to the face in the snout as well.

Anyway, enough talk of the fish, and on with the eye candy

 

[plecoperson]

Wow again. Those are just.....incredible. I bet your heart went pitter pat when you saw that fish in the tank. Splendid!

 

[andywg]

I was in a little bit of shock. That lfs rarely has anything great except giant catfish (such as RTC or TSN).

I asked them about it, and after managing to convince the staff that frogfish are not poisonous or venomous I decided I would take it.

Now I want to find some of the more colourful frogfishes such as A. pictus, A. multiocellatus or A. maculatus.

Only downside to getting bright colour ones is that these things are masters of disguise. Within one month an orange one with black spots can become a black one with orange spots and more than one poor soul has bought a lovely bright frog to have it turn a drab rock colour to merge in with a tank.

 

[Shubunkin01]

Andy, which shop did you visit? I also live in Southend. I didn't know a shop that sells Saltwater fish. They're strange but quite pretty really. I like your older one more.

 

[plecoperson]

...more than one poor soul has bought a lovely bright frog to have it turn a drab rock colour to merge in with a tank.

I think it would be worth it to paint the substrate orange and black?

 

[andywg]

The original one was ordered in through Tug's Tanks in Southchurch Road. This is easily my favorite shop as Mark really knows his stuff and hand picks every fish from the wholesaler.

The most recent one was picked up from Swallows in Rayleigh (just off the A127/A130 junction). They have a large amount of tanks and space, but mostly just stock boring FW and a whole load of unsuitable SW fish (such as batfish and blue spot stingrays).

The other main fish store I visit is Wickford Aquatics at the Alpha garden centre for their amazing second hand section. I picked up a pair of Tunze powerheads from there for a tenner each. They might be 17 years old (at least) but are still fantastic.

 

[Shubunkin01]

Thanks. Does Tug's Tanks have a FW section?

 

[andywg]

Tugs does indeed have a FW section.

He tends to keep in fairly common tropical community stuff, but if you chat to Mark he can specially grab most fish for you from the wholesaler.