Anglerfish

Antennarius sp. (frogfish/anglerfish) is a compact, bottom-perching ambush predator known for a textured, sponge-like body and a “fishing lure” on its head used to draw food close. It often blends into rockwork and macroalgae and tends to stay put until it decides to strike.

What You’ll Observe:

• Perching on ledges and in caves, then repositioning in short “hops” or slow walks using its fins
• The lure flicking in place, especially when food is nearby
• Sudden, fast strikes after long periods of stillness
• A routine of resting, then focused hunting around the same few favorite perches

How to succeed: Provide stable rockwork with multiple shaded perches and open “landing zones” so it can sit comfortably and hunt on its terms. Offer appropriately sized meaty marine foods (or gut-loaded live foods) and use a feeding stick/tongs to build a consistent feeding response over time. Many keepers get the best results with a species-focused setup or with tankmates that are clearly too large to be swallowed.

How do I transition a frogfish from live food to frozen?
Many hobbyists start with gut-loaded live foods, then present thawed marine items on tongs so the fish learns a predictable feeding “target” over repeated sessions. Consistency (same spot, same tool, same timing) tends to help.

Is it normal for a frogfish to sit still for long stretches?
Yes’this is a typical ambush style. Most of the activity comes in short bursts: repositioning to a new perch, working the lure, then striking quickly.

How often should I feed once it’s settled in?
Keepers commonly space meals out and focus on “right-sized” portions rather than frequent feeding; adults are often fed about weekly to every 10 days depending on the meal size. A steady routine is more important than constant offerings.

Can I keep two frogfish together if they’re the same size?
Some aquarists do try it with closely matched individuals and lots of separate perches, but many still choose one per tank for a simpler long-term setup. If attempted, planning the aquascape around multiple “stations” helps reduce constant interaction.

Why do people recommend a species-focused tank for Antennarius?
They’re built to swallow surprisingly large prey items and may treat fish-shaped tankmates as food, even if those tankmates seemed “fine” at first. A species-focused layout also makes target-feeding much more straightforward.

Shipped with pure oxygen and temperature control so it arrives stress-free and ready to eat.