Weedy Scorpionfish

the fish profile

Weedy Scorpionfish

This species is known as Weedy Scorpionfish, Popeyed Scorpionfish and the correct latin name is Rhinopias frondosa. It belongs to the Scorpion family. (e) It's origin is Indo-West Pacific. (e)

Character and suggestions regarding care

A poisonous fish.

Weedy Scorpionfish can grow up to 23 cm what is approximately 9 inches. In general, 1 specimen requires at least 2760cm2 of water surface which is approximately 427 square inch. It is recommended to raise this species in fish tanks that are medium. (e) Medium aquariums have at least 113 Litres (30 US Gallons). Large aquariums have at least 265 Litres (70 US Gallons). Very large aquariums hold at least 700 Litres (185 US Gallons).

It is not very difficult to keep the Weedy Scorpionfish. (e) The specific gravity (SG) should be between 1,020 and 1,025, the temperature between 23°C (73.4°F) and 26°C (78.8°F). The pH levels shouldn't be outside of 8.0 - 8.3 since most marine fish are used to the mentioned range of pH values.

Even this fish is quite large, it does not need too much place, because it won’t swim much. It uses to sit on the bottom and tries to act like an stone, or like a coral, so it does not move much. He preferably sits and waits.

Fish of this species use to eat smaller fish by acting like a rock which becomes alive once the victim swims nearby.

Weedy Scorpionfish also eat small crustaceans and will not accept anything but life food. However, avoid using feeder goldfish all the time, because they do not have all the nutrition that R. frondosa need. It is good to use freshwater live bearers and especially, when you breed them at home, you know that you are feeding your fish healthy food.

You also might try feeding sticks with pieces of fish, shrimps and squids if you do not want to feed them live food. But every fish is an individual and not every fish will accept food from a feeding stick. Do not forget, that this fish needs a variety of food, this is the reason why it is good to teach the fish to eat from the feeding stick.

Also you should not overfeed this fish, because it might lead to it’s death. This type of fish shed his skin and so gets rid of parasites. Even if it has a kind of skin disease, this shedding helps to recover. While shedding it is good to low down the water flow, because the fish can poison itself while shedding. You know that the fish is getting to shed when he gets cloudy.

When we speak about conditions in the tank, the best is to keep them in the aquarium with a sand bottom and rocks and in the species tank, because many fish can harm them.


Source: advancedaquarist.com. Document available on 28/09/2008.

Thanks to Kenneth Leonard for the pictures. Copyright Ken Leonard.

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Document modified on Mon Sep 29 3:22:46 UTC 2008
Document created on Sun Sep 28 12:52:56 UTC 2008
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