All fish / Scorpaenidae

Poss's scorpionfish

Scorpaenopsis possi

Also known as poss scorpionfish, poss's scorpion fish, scorpionfish, devil scorpionfish, false stonefish, ポスカサゴ, 波氏拟鲉

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A stocky, well camouflaged reef scorpionfish with a large head, fleshy skin flaps and mottled brown, red and cream colouring that lets it pass for a rock covered in algae. Keepers value it as an unusual ambush predator that sits still on rockwork and strikes suddenly at food.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

18 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: live then frozen fish, shrimp, prawn and squid, offered with tongs

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to French Polynesia, north to Japan and south to Australia

Breeding

It scatters buoyant eggs in open water and the larvae drift in the plankton for some time. It has not been bred in home aquariums in any meaningful way.

Good to know

The dorsal, anal and pelvic spines are venomous and a sting is very painful, so take care with hands and nets. It will swallow any fish or crustacean that fits in its mouth, and it is easily mixed up with other Scorpaenopsis species.