All fish / Scorpaenidae

Flasher Scorpionfish

Scorpaenopsis macrochir

Also known as flasher scorpionfish, flasher scorpion fish, raggy scorpionfish, rough scorpionfish, scorpionfish, ヒメサツマカサゴ, 大手拟鲉

This is a small, stocky scorpionfish with a lumpy, mottled body in browns, reds and creams that lets it blend in with rubble and rock. When it feels threatened it spreads its pectoral fins to show a bright inner pattern, which is how it got its common name. Keepers like it because it has a lot of character for a fish that waits in ambush and stays quite small.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: live or thawed frozen shrimp, fish pieces, mysis and krill; it usually has to be weaned off live food

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, northern Australia, western Pacific islands

Breeding

It scatters eggs in the open water, and the larvae drift as plankton. It has not been bred in home aquariums in any reliable way.

Good to know

Its dorsal fin spines are venomous and the sting is painful, so use care during tank maintenance. It will eat any fish or shrimp small enough to swallow.