Wartskin Angler Tank Mates?

[Fin-up reefing]

I have a small wartskin angler and I was wondering if he can have any tank mates

 

[JumboShrimp]

Wow, talk about an exotic-looking pet fish! Thanks for sharing the photo

 

[nereefpat]

Anything same size or smaller than the angler has to be expendible. It's kind of a species dedicated thing.

What is the tank size? Maybe large fish, or cheap damsels that you don't care about.

 

[Jesterrace]

Small Puffer Fish Maybe?

 

[Guttersnipe]

That’s a really nice looking angler.
Wow! Makes me want to get one.

 

[cracker]

Good Lord what a stunning looking fish !
Gotta ask what did it set You back?

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Beautiful fish. I'm curious too about what could be kept with him.

 

[Guttersnipe]

I think a fu man chu lion would do well with that angler.

 

[FishingLovingSons]

Wow, talk about an exotic-looking pet fish! Thanks for sharing the photo

^This! Gorgeous

 

[1979fishgeek]

Here’s mine I’ve had him three years from a tiny fingernail sized froglet. Fish even double his size would be considered yummy to him, I’ve only had luck keeping him with stomatella, dove snails.

 

[1979fishgeek]

Seen some suggestions of potential fish and just want to say the BIGGEST and most common cause of death in Frogfish in captivity is overfeeding Frogfish letting them eat prey that’s poisonous/venomous, has sharp spines or two big. They are literally eating machines and have no concept that what fits in its humongous mouth could kill it.

Toxic, poisonous or venomous fish will most likely kill a daft Frog, meals to large to digest rot inside before digestion can take effect and feeding over rich diet causes fatty liver disease. Spines can easily puncture their stomaches.

You have to be cruel to be kind with this guys, while they young gut loaded feeder shrimp daily are safest but the older and larger they get the longer the gap between meals must be, last meal has to be fully digested before feeding again. A hungry frog will start fishing and walking about the tank hunting that’s the signal to feed again. One sat in the same spot with a rounded belly does not need feeding....yet.

The fish would have to remarkabley bigger to not be viewed as food and then you get issues with potential bullying, biting their little fishing rods off or just out competing them for food. These guys are better as only resident, they even eat each other! On the bright side you can have pretty corals!

 

[JumboShrimp]

@1979fishgeek , very informative!!

 

[1979fishgeek]

@1979fishgeek , very informative!!

Thank you, I’m a bit of a geek with Frogfish Lol

 

[ncaldwell]

My lfs got a small lion fish and angler fish. Lionfish was slightly larger but got eaten by the angler within 30 seconds. Id go larger with tank mates. Poor thing was so bloated it just rolled around like a beach ball for a week

 

[cracker]

Hey They are reef safe ! LOL
great info @1979fishgeek ! How big is yours now? How big a tank? Filtration ?
I'm left in awe at the vibrant colors yet still blend into surrounds so well.
Mother Nature at her best .

 

[1979fishgeek]

Hey They are reef safe ! LOL
great info @1979fishgeek ! How big is yours now? How big a tank? Filtration ?
I'm left in awe at the vibrant colors yet still blend into surrounds so well.
Mother Nature at her best .

He’s got to be about 18-20cm now and he got that size from 1cm in just a year. I’ve had him in various tanks over the years from 60l to 300l but the later was a waste of space as they rarely move. He’s now in a 100l reef, dominated by softies, zoa, mushrooms and few macro algae’s for nutrient export and because the red colour of the macros help him keep his vibrant colours. Filtration is live rock, but not much flow as he can’t deal with it, but it has a sump with protein Skimmer and a refugium. Water changes take care of most of the tanks Stability needs. There’s a good population of stomatella and dove snails which he totally ignores and massive pod population, which are pretty good clean up crew.

 

[cracker]

Cool factoid ,very helpful about keeping stuff the same color of the fish to retain color .

 

[lion king]

What size tank is he in, the wartskin doesnt get too large so you do have options. He will eat anything as large as himself and you don't want to add anything that can pick on him. His esca(lure) mimics food so these will get chomped by many fish and they are sedentary which can lead to being picked on as well so no angels, puffers, tangs; a species inspired tank is best. So an appropriate sized dwarf lion or leaf fish are good choices. A dwarf golden eel is an exotic choice that can be fun.

I wish the Predatory Fish discussion would get more traffic https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/predatory-fish-discussion.772/
you'll find sticky threads at the top with an angler page and a lion and eel page. You'll also find many a discussion about tank mates, tank set up, and feeding.

 

[Philt56]

Here’s mine I’ve had him three years from a tiny fingernail sized froglet. Fish even double his size would be considered yummy to him, I’ve only had luck keeping him with stomatella, dove snails.

,what do you feed Him? Live only?

 

[srad750c]

I have a small wartskin angler and I was wondering if he can have any tank mates

He can eat anything half his size, and they get to a decent size.