All fish / Antennariidae

Giant Frogfish

Antennarius commerson

Also known as commerson's frogfish, giant anglerfish, commerson frogfish, giant frog fish, frogfish, anglerfish, オオモンカエルアンコウ, 康氏躄鱼, 大斑躄鱼

This is the biggest of the frogfishes. It is a lumpy, globe-shaped ambush predator that comes in many colours, including yellow, orange, red, black and grey, and it uses a fishing lure on its head to attract prey. Keepers like it for its odd look, its strong personality and the way it hunts with a lightning-fast gulp.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

30 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: live or frozen fish, shrimp and other whole meaty seafood, weaned onto dead food where possible

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 20 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii, Panama and the Galapagos

Breeding

Females release eggs in a floating gelatinous raft after a courtship at the surface, and the larvae drift in the plankton. Breeding in home aquariums is very rare and raising the young is extremely difficult.

Good to know

It can swallow tankmates nearly its own size, so only keep it with fish far too big to eat, or keep it alone. It reaches over 30 cm and produces a lot of waste, so it needs strong filtration and should not be overfed.