My new Rhinopias (weedy scorpion fish)

[whatcaneyedo]

I fell in love with this species when I first saw them available a few years ago. However the $200-500 price tag scared me off until now. J&L has just begun bringing in some really small ones at a reasonable price so I thought I'd give it a shot. So far I've only had this little fish for three days. Its eaten 1 or 2 mollies in that time but I'll work at weening it onto frozen silversides. In the past I've kept Volitan Lionfish and a Fu Manchu Lionfish for several years so I'm not a stranger to scorpion fish.

Here is the little Rhino in my 20gal QT tank along with some liverock and coral for decoration. Eventually I'd like to incorporate it into my 120gal but that all depends on when/if it get it switched to frozen foods.

Some things I've learnt from reading the little bit of information I could find: 9" adult size, change colour slowly to camouflage into their surroundings, venomous, eat anything they can swallow, up to 5 years old lifespan reported in captivity, difficult to ween onto frozen food, and sensitive to water quality.

If anyone else has some experience to add I'd be happy to hear it.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh109/whatcaneyedo/IMG_9701.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh109/whatcaneyedo/IMG_9697.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh109/whatcaneyedo/IMG_9691.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh109/whatcaneyedo/IMG_9683.jpg

[Skimmerking]

Dude that is a gorgeous fish nice catch

[subman]

Awesome fish!

[FishyFishy!]

Man that is a killer looking fish! I love that first pic of him stretching his mouth!

[whatcaneyedo]

Actually J&L may have been mistaken, I'm looking at my copy of Reef Fishes by Scott Michael and this looks more like a Pteroidichthys amboinensis (Ambon Scorpionfish). No matter, they're still both very closely related. Perhaps it should be called the poor mans Rhinopias?