All fish / Batrachoididae

Grunting toadfish

Allenbatrachus grunniens

Also known as frog fish, freshwater toadfish, toadfish, grunter toadfish, frogfish, batrachus grunniens, halophryne grunniens, ปลากบ, ikan katak, ガマアンコウ, ikan kodok, 蟾鱼

A stocky, broad-headed ambush predator with a huge mouth, fleshy flaps around the jaws and a mottled brown and yellow pattern. It spends most of its time hidden in caves waiting for prey and can produce audible grunting sounds. Keepers like its odd looks, hardiness and character.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.5

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Singly, or with fish too large to swallow

Diet

Carnivore: live and frozen shrimp, earthworms, fish pieces, mussel

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 years or more

Water

Brackish

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific coasts and estuaries: India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia

Breeding

Males guard eggs laid on the roof of a cave or crevice and care for the attached young. Captive spawning is rarely reported.

Good to know

Often sold as a freshwater fish but it lives in estuaries and does best in brackish water. It will eat any tankmate that fits in its mouth, and its dorsal spines can give a painful, possibly venomous jab.