Anyone know how to ID a Froggy?

hansnfrans · #1 07/10/2007, 09:38 PM

I picked up a frogfish today and I was curious to know what species he may be. I looked through my "Dr. Burgess' Atlas" and from the looks of it, it is rather difficult to tell the difference between the majority of the species.

Based on the single spot at the bottom of his dorsal fin, I have narrowed it down to either Antennarius biocellatus or Antennarius nummifer.

Does anyone have any ideas or have a good resource handy?

Thanks.

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hansnfrans · #2 07/10/2007, 09:40 PM

I could also use some advice on how to get this lil' guy to eat frozen food, what kinds is he more likely to take, etc.

Thanks.

LisaD · #3 07/11/2007, 08:54 AM

Nice looking frog. I'm not sure what it is, but Scott Michael's Reef Fishes volume 1 has a great chapter on anglers with good ID information. You'll have to focus on the lure and count fin rays. Many of the anglers look alike and can't be ID'd just from a pic.

Try offering live ghost shrimp, then wounded (dying) ghost shrimp from a stick or tongs. Once he takes ghost shrimp from a feeding stick, he should accept other frozen foods. Some frogs will never take frozen, and even if yours will, be prepared to be patient.

fishonly18 · #4 07/11/2007, 07:46 PM

looks like an angler to me. and if he touches air he could die. i would try danglin sum frozen silversides in front of his face after hes been in a couple of days. thats what i used to do at my work

uberfugu · #5 07/12/2007, 08:06 AM

Looks like a coinbearing (Antennarius nummifer) to me

FishBase

rjarnold · #6 07/30/2007, 03:27 PM

"and if he touches air he could die."

Just wondering if many people have experienced this....I've heard it over and over again and I know it's possible... Just that as many of you know, I do fin clips - I take them out of the water, put them on their side, snip off a tiny piece of anal fin, and put them back in. Never have I had any problems with that or transferring them by hand from the bag they came home in to the aquarium through 3-5 seconds of air.

SitBackAndWatch · #7 07/30/2007, 09:13 PM

sorry i dont know much of anglers... but why would you nip there anal fin? any specific reason?

Kinetic · #8 07/30/2007, 09:25 PM

haha wow! what an awesome frogfish!

uberfugu · #9 07/30/2007, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SitBackAndWatch
sorry i dont know much of anglers... but why would you nip there anal fin? any specific reason?

Rachel is a researcher studying Antennariid DNA. She works with Dr. Pietsch (of
Frogfishes of the World fame), the Godfather of frogfishes

LisaD · #10 07/31/2007, 09:27 AM

fin clips are for getting DNA samples. DNA is used for identifying species and their relationships.

_FishFreak_724 · #11 07/31/2007, 01:37 PM

I second the coinbearing.