Pictures can only describe this...

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arlene1995

Guest
LOL... Just be sure that NOTHING can fit in its mouth... it has a HUGE mouth and I mean ENORMOUS!!!! No Prob! Not really. It just kinda lurches around here and there all day on the sand-bed.
 

aquaknight

Active Member
Originally Posted by crypt keeperhttp:///forum/post/2894965I believe its called a Bocon Toadfish. Their are 3 related species to the scientific name.
Amphichthys cryptocentrus
I'm pretty sure it's not Amphichthys, but Opsanus beta
(Gulf Toadfish). In Arlene's pics, his fish has a lack of appendages which seem to be more consistent with Gulf toadfish. And their natural habitat, they're pretty popular here.
Common name
: Gulf (or Orange) toadfish
Scientific name:
Opsanus beta
Size:
Up to 30cm/12".
Origin:
This West Atlantic batrachoidid species is found in Florida, the Bahamas and the Gulf of Mexico, down as far as Mexico.
Habitat:
Beds of seagrass and among rocks in bays and lagoons.
Breeding:
Rarely kept in the aquarium, so not known to have bred in captivity. Wild fish spawn between February and March. Interestingly, they produce several different nest types. Males tend to prefer to inhabit nests that are in close proximity to those of other males, but can be territorial with their neighbours.
Aquarium:
This is a fairly inactive species and spends much of its time hiding among rocks. As such, although a fairly large aquarium is important, tank size is not as critical as it is for some more active-swimming fishes. A tank of at least 120cm/4' would be a good starting point. Only mix this species with larger fishes - it could have the capacity to swallow small tankmates. Ensure that the tank is well filtered. Can be aggressive.
Diet:
Meaty foods, such as pieces of whole fish and shrimp.
Notes:
Opsanus beta is used as a model organism for research on ureotely, something which occurs only in a handful of fishes, such as the Batrachoididae. This species can swap from excreting ammonia to synthesising and excreting urea.
Availability:
These aren't common in the trade. We recently spotted several at The Aquarium in Lincolnshire.
Arlene, how come Jabba the Hut, or just Jabba hasn't been said yet?
 
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arlene1995

Guest
Hmmm... I thought that the Gulf Toadfish was more of a brown color?? Also, there is a shot of it on Google with multiple rows of hideous teeth. This guy seems to have a few teeth, but no where near the amount as the Gulf... I really have no idea. All I know is that it is a toadfish and it is not a dogfish so I'll research the Gulf a little more and see what I come up with. LOL All help is appreciated! Thanks!
Well, Jabba hadn't been said yet but that can also be part of the list... He resembles Jabba amazingly now that you say that...
 
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arlene1995

Guest
Well, after doing some research, it is in fact a Gulf Toadfish, not Bocon. Is there any reason why the picture I have seen shows hideous teeth and the fish is brown? Some seem to be orange though... According to FishBase, they are brown. I don't know for sure, but the Gulf Toadfish seems to be the closest so far if not the answer...
 
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arlene1995

Guest
Alrighty then, it IS a Gulf Toadfish. The Florida Museum of Natural History's Ichthyological Department's photos of Gulf Toadfish show them Brown and half Brown, half Orange... Thanks AquaKnight for the lead!
 
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arlene1995

Guest
Those Splendid Toadfish are amazing... I think they are really hard to find though since they are endemic to Cozumel... Good luck and let us know if you do happen to come across one...
 

hammerhed7

Active Member
It is a close relative of the gulf, look up "opsanus pardus". Cool fish I had one for a while, they look much better in person, the orange color, with the white silver markings on the side are very cool.
 
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arlene1995

Guest
Weird... I think I saw a video of a really big one eating... How large was yours?
 

hammerhed7

Active Member
Originally Posted by Arlene1995
http:///forum/post/2896662
Weird... I think I saw a video of a really big one eating... How large was yours?
mine was about 8" when I gave him to a friend, he is about 10" now. The owner of an lfs in my area has one in his display tank thats about 13", that is about the max size. He has had that fish for 10 years, they re capable of eating large fish, I saw the one in the display tank eat a 7" lunare wrasse that was added to the tank in one gulp, so large tank mates are a must.
 
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arlene1995

Guest
Dang.... If I ever get another large tank I'll have to look for one...
 

hillius31

Member
Its face kinda looks like my old stone fish "Leonard". RIP Leonard. Your were my favorite fish!!!

I vote for Igor
 
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arlene1995

Guest
That stonefish is AWESOME... I think I have caught some similar on our jetty...
 
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