All fish / Scorpaenidae

Lacy Scorpionfish

Rhinopias aphanes

Also known as merlet's scorpionfish, lacy scorpionfish, weedy scorpionfish, rhinopias, lace scorpionfish, ハナオコゼカサゴ, 无饰嵌鲉, 花斑短鳍蓑鲉

A rare, high-priced scorpionfish covered in a lace-like pattern of dark lines and rings over yellow, green or purple, with skin flaps that let it pass for crinoid or weed. It ambushes prey rather than chasing it and spends much of its time sitting still or rocking on its fins. Advanced keepers prize it as a showpiece.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Keep singly or as a mated pair

Diet

Carnivore: live or freshly thawed whole fish and shrimp, weaned slowly onto dead food

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, northeastern Australia and southern Japan

Breeding

It lays eggs in a floating gelatinous mass and the larvae drift in the plankton. It has not been bred regularly in home aquariums.

Good to know

Its fin spines are venomous and the sting is very painful, so take care when working in the tank. It will eat any fish or shrimp that fits in its mouth, and it is also often a fussy feeder, so keep it only with tankmates too big to swallow and that won't pick at it.