All fish / Scorpaenidae

Ambon Scorpionfish

Pteroidichthys amboinensis

Also known as ambon scorpionfish, ambon scorpion fish, horned scorpionfish, weedy scorpionfish, ambon devil scorpion, amboina scorpionfish, ヒメヒラタカサゴ, 安汶狭蓑鲉

A small, cryptic scorpionfish with long skin flaps above the eyes and a ragged, weedy body that varies from brown to red, yellow or green to match its surroundings. Keepers prize it as an unusual ambush predator that sits motionless on sand or rubble and occasionally sheds its skin.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Single specimen or a pair

Diet

Carnivore: live shrimp and small fish at first, then weaned onto frozen mysis, krill and chopped seafood

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

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

Breeding

It scatters buoyant eggs after pairing, as with other scorpionfish. It has not been bred reliably in home aquariums.

Good to know

Its fin spines are venomous and can cause a painful sting, so handle with care. It will eat any fish or shrimp small enough to swallow, and is often hard to wean onto dead food.