Scorpionfish

[seabass]

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish are bottom dwelling fish with venomous defensive spines.  They are hardy and adapt relatively well to captive life.  Provide a mixed sandy substrate with some rubble and plenty of live rock for shelter and perching on.  They tend to do best with more docile tank mates.

 

Coral Crouchers are sometimes referred to as Gobies, but are actually members of the Scorpionfish family.  They have gumdrop-like bodies, and are often found amongst corals branches and rock rubble.  Its body looks like it's covered in hair, giving it a fuzzy appearance.  While reclusive at first, it should eventually come out more often.  Coral Crouchers will lay eggs on the underside of SPS coral branches (often causing tissue loss).  However, if healthy, the coral should recover.

 

Coral Crouchers should be fed a varied diet consisting of frozen mysis shrimp, chopped shrimp, and frozen preparations for carnivores.  It should be target fed daily with feeding tongs or some other feeding tool.  Without a substrate, Coral Crouchers should be fed several times a day.

 

Pygmy Coral Croucher Goby (Caracanthus unipinna)

Max Size: 2"

Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons

Care level: Easy

Temperament: Peaceful

Reef Compatible: Yes
Origin: Central Pacific

 

Madagascar Spotted Croucher Goby (Caracanthus madagascariensis) a.k.a. Gumdrop Coral Croucher

Max Size: 2"

Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons

Care level: Easy

Temperament: Peaceful

Reef Compatible: Yes
Origin: Madagascar

 

Leaf Fish (Taenianotus triacanthus)

Max Size: 4"

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

Care level: Moderate

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Reef Compatible: With Caution
Origin: Hawaii, Indonesia, Maldives

Species Notes: The Leaf Fish diet consists of live foods such as feeder fish or small shrimp.  It does best with passive tank mates.

 

Orangebanded Stingfish (Choridactylus multibarbus)

Max Size: 5"

Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons

Care level: Moderate

Temperament: Aggressive

Reef Compatible: No
Origin: Indonesia, Maldives

Species Notes: The Orangebanded Stingfish is able to bury itself up to its eyes in order to ambush its prey.  Entice new specimens with live ghost shrimp, then wean onto mysis shrimp and other prepared meaty foods.

 

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Edited July 23, 2021 by seabass