Care Level: Advanced

Temperament: Aggressive

Reef Compatible: With Caution

General Description: Anglers [common] have a large distrubution across the Indo-Pacific. These fish are called ‘anglers’ because of their modified dorsal spine that hangs in front of their face and mouth. This appears like a tasty morsel to unsuspecting fish, and when they come too close to investigate, they’re consumed whole by this ambush predator. Anglers come in a wide variety of colors and patterns; in most cases over time, they change their initial appearance to better blend in with the environment in which they are added to. Anglers are sensitive to copper based medications. An adult Angler can grow to approximately 6″. Note: Given the specialized care of anglerfish and their limited compatability with livestock, we order these typically on a special order basis only.

Diet Requirements: Anglers are carnivores and almost always need to be offered live food as a precursor to frozen foods. We recommend giving live ghost shrimp a high quality flake food before feeding them to an Anglerfish so that they have greater nutritional value. Use a pair of tongs to hold the prey in front of the Angler so that it begins to associate the tongs with feeding. Once your Angler is interested in frozen foods, appropriate options will vary depending on the size of the individual. Examples include squid, mysis shrimp, krill, and chopped fish to maintain optimal health and coloration. Because Anglers are actually quite sedentary, they can be fed much less than most fish. Check the body mass of your Angler and feed accordingly, which may be every few days. Note: While we strive to offer Anglers that are eating strictly frozen foods, or a combination of frozen foods and live foods, it is not uncommon for them to revert back to only accepting live foods, or ignoring food altogether, for a period of time due to the stress of a new environment.

Care Requirements: An established minimum 15 to 30 gallon aquarium is ideal for an Angler. Anglers appreciate some live rock in the aquarium, especially a cave or two to hang in during the day and at night. Only one Angler should be kept per aquarium; they are capable of eating each other. Compatability with other fish in general is to be approached with great caution, as Anglers have been observed to eat fish of equal or even greater size to themselves. Anglers pose no threat to corals, but could eat reef invertebrates such as shrimp and many common small reef fishes. Recommended water conditions, 72-78° F, KH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025.

Purchase Size: Small: 2″ or less; Medium: 2-1/4″ to 3-1/4″; Large: 3-1/2″ to 4-1/2″

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.