23. Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (2)

Platycephalus indicus

8. May 2023

If anything, marine aquarists are familiar with the flatheads of the genus Platycephalus. There are 17 species, P. indicus, which can be easily recognized by its black and white stalked caudal fin, is the best known and most common species. It is found in large parts of the Indo-West Pacific and the Red Sea. The fish has also migrated to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal.

Platycephalus indicus is thus a marine fish, but juveniles are occasionally caught in freshwater, including the specimens we currently offer, obtained from the lower reaches of the Hooghly River in Bengal. We maintain the animals at a salinity of 5 g salt/liter (seawater has a little over 30 g salt/liter). This is obviously good for them and they eat excellently. However, one must be aware that long-term care is only possible in strong brackish water or seawater. Platycephalus indicus grows to about 100 cm in length, so it is not a small fish, even though the normal average length of the popular food fish is “only” about 50 cm.

Platycephalus indicus are obligate predatory fish. We are glad that they eagerly eat live white mosquito larvae, but in the long run they must be accustomed to eating whole fish. Since P. indicus are not particularly shy, we think that after habituation they will eat well from tweezers. Among themselves the animals are peaceful, they hardly take notice of other fish species. An aquarium for Platycephalus should have as large a bottom area as possible. Sand should be chosen as substrate. Planting is not necessary. The water temperature can be between 18 and 28°C. When keeping them in fresh water you have to pay attention to the pH-value, which should not drop below 8.

We have also made a small film about these fish, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wksku16nN7g.

For our customers: the animals have code 443702 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Neovespicula depressifrons

31. August 2018

The order of scorpionfishes is as well famous as famed. Without scorpionfishes a real bouillabaisse is unthinkable, without lionfishes public aquaria and marine hobbyists would miss a wonderful attraction, but all members of this order have venomous spines and can inflict very painful – in case of the stonefishes even eventually deadly – stings. Scorpionfishes are ususally marine animals, only one species of the family Tetrarogidae from Australia has become a freshwater species.

Neovespicula depressifrons belongs to the very same family, the Tetrarogidae. The species has a very wide distribution in the indo-west pacific region, attains a length of about 10 cm and is a marine species. But the 2-3 cm long juveniles are found in large numbers in freshwater and so they appear from time to time in the ornamental fish trade. The leaf goblinfish is an interesting and easy to keep animal, but it will not survive in a long time sight in freshwater. It needs brackish water or seawater. It is a peaceful species, but will feed on small fish. During the time of settlement these fish are fed best with live food items, later they readily accept frozen fishfood, too. One should be really careful when the fish have to be caught. The sting is usually harmless (exept one has an allergy), but is can be extremely painful.

For our customers: the fish have code 474001 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer