Freshwater Stonefish Three-spined Frogfish Toadfish
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| Freshwater Stonefish Three-spined Frogfish Toadfish |
The freshwater lionfish Batrachomoeus trispinosus is a very interesting fish that can be kept in a saltwater aquarium. This unusual fish is found in the muddy bottoms of mangrove estuaries and coastal waters. It is actually a marine fish, but since in the wild it spends a lot of time where salt water mixes with fresh water, it is better adapted to lower salinity levels than fish and other marine animals.
Its common name in Australia is the three-slot frogfish. No one really knows how it got the common name freshwater lionfish. It is not related to the saltwater lionfish, which is a subfamily of the Pteroinae, and fortunately it is not as toxic as the saltwater lionfish. It is possible that someone with an overactive imagination cannot pronounce "Batrachomoeus trispinosus" and needs to call it that! These are members of the genus Batrachomoeus, which are non-venomous frogfish.
The freshwater lionfish is actually a rather strange and exotic fish. The names Toadfish, Frogfish and even Stonefish give a good impression of what this fish looks and does. It stays very firm and looks very much like a camouflaged brown boulder or rock, hence the name Stonefish. The large head and mouth look very much like the head of a frog. It also feeds like a frog or toad, waiting patiently for its food to come to hand, then swallowing it quickly.
Members of the frog family, Batrachoididae, get their name from the fact that most of them can roll over when molested or when males are courting females. It's unlikely your pet will make this sound, but you never know. Some aquarists have reported that their fish growl loudly when other inhabitants swim nearby, scaring their tank mates and causing them to flee the area.
Freshwater lionfish grow very large, reaching a length of about 30 cm. But despite their large size, they don't really need a large tank as they are still pretty most of the time. It is camouflaged to blend in with its surroundings. It's peaceful, but predatory. Choose tank mates that are too big to fit in their cavernous mouths.
Habitat: Distribution/Context
The freshwater lionfish Batrachomoeus trispinosus was first described by Günther in 1861. It is a common species found in the Indian and Western Oceans. Northwestern Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Aravura Sea and Mekong Delta. The species is not on the IUCN red list.
Most of the species traded in the aquarium fish trade is exported from Thailand. Its common name in Australia is the three-slot frogfish. Other common names by which this fish is known include freshwater stonefish, freshwater frogfish, freshwater frogfish, three-striped frogfish, broad frogfish, estuary frogfish, three-branched frogfish, and frogfish. .
These frogs live in trawl areas of coastal waters and muddy bottoms of estuaries, as well as in coral reefs. In the wild, frogs have a varied diet including fish, crabs, shrimp, octopus, bivalves, snails, sand dollars, sea urchins and polychaete worms.
Zoological Name: Batrachomoeus trispinosus
Social Group: Solitary
IUCN Red List: NE - Non-resident or not listed
Description
The freshwater lionfish is very large, reaching about 30 cm in length. The head is about a third of its length and has a large mouth. In its skin there are spines. It can cause pain if rubbed with the hand. Although this does not pose a significant threat, if a person is prone to allergic reactions, they should be careful. It remains motionless, much like a camouflaged brown mass, or stone, hence the name stone freshwater fish.
Age: 20 years old
Difficulty in raising fish
They are actually easy to care for and will be comfortable in a variety of water conditions. However, although they are called freshwater lionfish, they will not live in completely fresh water for long. They really need to be kept in a brackish water aquarium or even in a salt water environment. These fish live in fresh water at low tide, which becomes less salty and then at high tide, in salt water. Feeding can be difficult as these fish prefer live food that swims alongside them. They will not take peeled or skinned food and should learn to eat dead/frozen food. This takes patience, but can usually be accomplished with a feeding stick.
Tank hardness: medium strength
Experience level of the aquarist: advanced
feeding and nutrition
The freshwater lion is a carnivorous predator. In the wild, it feeds on crustaceans and live fish. In the aquarium, feed a variety of foods, including bloodworms, earthworms, river shrimp and crayfish. Some of the fish foods you can serve include tilapia, rainbow trout, pollack and kohl. Shrimp and prawns can be used as a short term fish food.
This fish plans to camouflage and sneak in a meal, so if its prey isn't swimming directly in front of it, it may not have enough to eat. Using a feeding stick, aquarium tongs, or clamps to hold food in front of their mouths is a good way to make sure they get enough food. Feeding may take some time, so be patient. Be careful not to overfeed these somewhat sedentary fish. Leave just enough so that the abdomen is slightly full but does not look bloated.
Some species of live fish and marine invertebrates are not recommended, at least not long term. These include goldfish, guppies, as well as mussels, shrimp, prawns and at least some species of squid. With goldfish and guppy fish, there is a risk of parasite entry. In addition, these fish and invertebrates are rich in an enzyme called thiaminase. Thiamine metabolizes or breaks down vitamin B1, which can lead to serious long-term health problems. The above fish are thiamine-free foods.
Diet type: Carnivore
Food flake: No
Tablet/Pellet: No
Live foods (fish, shrimp, worms): most diets
Meat-based foods: all diets
Feeding frequency: weekly
Aquarium maintenance
Aquarium maintenance
This type is best suited for brackish or brackish water tanks. It can only be kept in fresh water for a short period of time, but it cannot be kept in fresh water permanently and as live. Acclimate them slowly to a brackish tank, over the course of about a week. They should have a minimum density of at least 1.005, but it is suggested to use brackish water of 2.5% to 3% salinity density (SG 1.020-1.024) on a long-term basis.
Schedule weekly partial water changes as needed, usually around 25-50%. Water changes can be highly variable, depending on salinity, tank size, and stocking density (biological load). For example, a saltwater aquarium typically requires about twice as much water change as a freshwater aquarium.
Water Changes: Weekly - Make water changes as needed, usually about 25-50% per week.
Aquarium Preparation
Freshwater Lions require a salt or brackish water environment. They cannot be kept in fresh water as they will not live long. The density should be at least 1.005 and up to 1.024. A tank volume of at least 40 gallons or more should be provided for events. Larger fish will need more space, with 100 gallons or more being best.
These species will spend all their time at the bottom of the tank. It is recommended that you use gravel substrate as well as rock caves to provide hidden cover to keep them in good condition. You can also plan areas of dense vegetation. They like to be able to camouflage themselves as much as possible to feel safe. This fish will appreciate a good cartridge filter with moderate current.
Minimum tank size: 40 gallons (151 liters) - An adult three-net frogfish will need 100 gallons or more.
Suitable for nano tank:
Substrate type: coarse gravel
Lighting requirements: low light - low
Temperature: 72.0 to 82.0 degrees Fahrenheit (22.2 to 27.8 degrees Celsius)
pH range: 7.8-8.5
Hardness range: 7-10 AED
Brackish: yes
Water Movement: Moderate
Water zone: Low - The freshwater lion spends all its time on the bottom.
social behavior
Choose tank mates that are too big to fit in their cavernous mouths. This fish is not at all aggressive, but because it is a very large-mouthed predator, great care is required when selecting tank mates. They will remain isolated in the shelter during the day, but may come out at night. When they are resting and learning their diet, they may start coming out when the lights are on.
Sam: No - although not toxic, their skin has spines that can cause pain if you touch it with your hand.
His Character: peaceful - peaceful, but a predator that will eat any fish in its mouth.
aligns with:
Same species - conspecifics: yes
Peaceful fish ( ): observant - must be large enough not to be considered food.
semi-aggressive ( ): observant
aggressive ( ): observant
Large semi-aggressive ( ): display
large, aggressive, predator (): observer
Slow swimmers and eaters (): Screen - Must be large enough to not be considered food.
Shrimp, crabs and snails: Threat - Aggressive - crustaceans are part of their natural diet.
Plants: Safe
Gender: the difference between the sexes
unknown.
Breeding / rearing
Not bred in a freshwater aquarium.
Ease of reproduction: unknown
Fish diseases
Like most fish, freshwater lionfish are susceptible to skin fluids, parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.), ichthyopod infections, parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.), bacterial infections (general), and bacterial diseases. Anything you add to your aquarium can cause disease in your aquarium. Not only other fish, but also plants, substrate and decorations can harbor bacteria. Be very careful and be sure to clean or completely isolate anything you add to a fixed tank so that it doesn't upset the balance.
These fish are very resilient and disease is usually not a problem in a well-maintained aquarium. However, there is no guarantee that you won't have to deal with health problems or disease. Because these fish eat live food, diseases can be transmitted to them through their food. Be sure to isolate live food before feeding.