All fish / Scorpaenidae

Papuan Scorpionfish

Scorpaenopsis papuensis

Also known as papuan scorpionfish, papua scorpionfish, devil scorpionfish, scorpion fish, false stonefish, パプアカサゴ, ikan lepu, 巴布亚鲉, 巴布亚拟鲉

A stocky, heavily camouflaged ambush predator with a large mouth, skin flaps and a mottled brown, red and cream body that blends in with rock and rubble. Keepers value it for its strange appearance and its interesting habit of sitting motionless before snapping up prey in a flash.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: live then frozen whole foods such as shrimp, silversides, krill and pieces of fish

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, northern Australia to Solomon Islands and Ryukyu Islands

Breeding

It scatters eggs in a floating gelatinous mass after a pairing at night, and the larvae drift in the plankton. It has not been bred in home aquariums in any meaningful way.

Good to know

The dorsal, anal and pelvic spines are venomous and cause very painful stings, so take care when working in the tank. It will eat any fish or crustacean that fits in its mouth, and it is often confused with similar Scorpaenopsis species.