All fish / Scorpaenidae

Mozambique scorpionfish

Parascorpaena mossambica

Also known as mozambique scorpionfish, peacock scorpionfish, mossambique scorpionfish, scorpionfish, ネッタイフサカサゴ, 莫桑比克圆鳞鲉

This is a small, stocky scorpionfish with mottled brown, red and white camouflage, skin flaps and a dark spot on the spiny dorsal fin. It sits still among rocks and rubble and ambushes prey, and keepers like it because it is an interesting predator that stays fairly small.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: live or thawed shrimp, small fish, mysis and other meaty foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific: East Africa and Red Sea to Indonesia, Philippines, Japan and Pacific islands

Breeding

It scatters floating eggs held in a jelly-like mass, and the larvae drift in the plankton. It has not been bred regularly in home aquariums.

Good to know

The dorsal, anal and pelvic spines are venomous and stings are very painful, so handle the fish with care. It will eat any fish or shrimp small enough to swallow.