uberfugu
Community Member
Antennatus maculatus, the wartskin angler or frogfish gets to about 4". The problem with anglers is that they need good water quality but, in large tanks, it is difficult to concentrate food items so they can catch them. Since they hide and really can't be trusted with other fishes, a large display tank with an angler can be a little uninteresting to many. The nice thing about a wartskin is that they are one of the less shy of their kin and will often be out and about in the tank.
Most literature seems to indicate a 20-40 gallon tank as minimum. For the most part, I agree. More important is reef quality water which can be difficult as frogfishes can be nitrate factories (Scott Michael disagrees but I do use test kits!)
I've had decent success with frogfishes a few different ways. One, I plumb a smaller tank into a larger system. Say a 15 gallon (which is about the smallest size tank to physically accommodate an angler...there are some exceptions) which is plumbed into a 90 gallon reef. This helps keep a stable environment while allowing the frogfish to pursue live prey.
The other way I've done it is to use oversized filtration on a small (the same 15 gal) tank. I've used big skimmers, 25% weekly water hangers, reverse-lit algae refugiums, denitrators, and pellet reactors to minimized metabolites. This is an expensive way but, when dealing with expensive animals, it is worth it, at least to me.
Oh, and feed quality marine foodstuffs and don't over feed. My 2" wartskin eats a 1" section of silverside once a week. And they do love crabs. I did loose a frogfish which ate a small hermit crab; I think the shell might of caused it problems.
Most literature seems to indicate a 20-40 gallon tank as minimum. For the most part, I agree. More important is reef quality water which can be difficult as frogfishes can be nitrate factories (Scott Michael disagrees but I do use test kits!)
I've had decent success with frogfishes a few different ways. One, I plumb a smaller tank into a larger system. Say a 15 gallon (which is about the smallest size tank to physically accommodate an angler...there are some exceptions) which is plumbed into a 90 gallon reef. This helps keep a stable environment while allowing the frogfish to pursue live prey.
The other way I've done it is to use oversized filtration on a small (the same 15 gal) tank. I've used big skimmers, 25% weekly water hangers, reverse-lit algae refugiums, denitrators, and pellet reactors to minimized metabolites. This is an expensive way but, when dealing with expensive animals, it is worth it, at least to me.
Oh, and feed quality marine foodstuffs and don't over feed. My 2" wartskin eats a 1" section of silverside once a week. And they do love crabs. I did loose a frogfish which ate a small hermit crab; I think the shell might of caused it problems.
) but could I hook up a 15 gallon tank with a clown angler to my 29 gallon reef. It has a 20 gallon sump and a skimmer rated up to 120 gallon 
I also have a fuge
