All fish / Antennariidae

Longlure Frogfish

Antennarius multiocellatus

Also known as longlure frogfish, long-lure frogfish, frogfish, anglerfish, caribbean frogfish, ocellated frogfish, カエルアンコウ, 多斑躄鱼

A stocky, lumpy ambush predator with leg-like pectoral fins and a long fishing lure on its snout, found in yellow, orange, red, brown or green with dark eye-like spots. Keepers value it for its odd looks, colour changes and dramatic feeding behaviour.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: live then frozen whole foods such as shrimp, silversides and lancefish

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Atlantic: Bermuda, Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean to Brazil; also Ascension and Cape Verde

Breeding

Pairs spawn a floating raft of eggs in a gelatinous mass, and the larvae are planktonic. Captive breeding is rare and rearing the young is very difficult.

Good to know

It will swallow any tankmate close to its own size, including other frogfish, so keep it alone or only with much larger fish. Do not overfeed, as frogfish are prone to fatal obesity and gut blockages.