Frogfish + sandbed yes or no?

[fishoholic]

Is it better for a frogfish to have a sandbed or is it fine with a bare bottom tank? I'm in the process of setting up a 20 ish gallon cube tank (20x16x14) for a frogfish and I'm wondering if I should add sand or just leave it bare.

[naesco]

No a sandbed would get in the way.

After you feed your frogfish, live baby fish Scott Michaels says they make large piles of sh*t which is easy to remove. A BB would be better as you would see it easier I would think.

I havn't kept them though and wouldn't.
The idea of throwing in a live baby fish and watching the frogfish attack it is not appealing to me.

[karazy]

it all depends on a few factors.

first off bare bottom would be way easier to clean which is a plus.
but you have to consider how much rock you are putting in the tank when you are dealing with frogfish.
the reason being if you are doing lots of rock then bare bottom is fine because the frogfish can just hide in all the rock and be perfectly camoflouged.
but if you are not doing alot of rock i would suggest a sandbed as it makes the frogfish feel more comfortable.
in my frogfish tank i just have one small island in the middle and then big clumps of amcro algae growing everywhere. what ive noticed is the frogfish likes to try to camofloughe by going to the edge of a rock, digging himself into the sand a little bit and then huddling next to the rock so that he looks just like the rock.

just my 2 cents

[fishoholic]

I do want a lot of rock for him so I will leave it BB for now. I can always add sand later if I think he needs or would like it.

The frogfish I'm getting my friend has had for over a year, he puts small damsels with it and feeds pellets to the tank. My friend said he's never seen him eat, but every now and then a damsel goes missing I'm going to do my best to convince Mr. frogfish that silversides are the most yummy things ever. However there are a few damsels (still in the tank with him right now at my friend's place) that will be coming along with the frogfish as my friend is shutting that tank down and has no where else to put the damsels. Not sure what to think of that but for now (It may be naive but it makes me feel better) I want to think Mr frogfish will leave the damsels alone and love the silversides, squid, mysis and clams etc. that I plan on feeding him and want him to eat. Either way I guess he wont go hungry

[naesco]

Originally Posted by fishoholic

I do want a lot of rock for him so I will leave it BB for now. I can always add sand later if I think he needs or would like it.

The frogfish I'm getting my friend has had for over a year, he puts small damsels with it and feeds pellets to the tank. My friend said he's never seen him eat, but every now and then a damsel goes missing I'm going to do my best to convince Mr. frogfish that silversides are the most yummy things ever. However there are a few damsels (still in the tank with him right now at my friend's place) that will be coming along with the frogfish as my friend is shutting that tank down and has no where else to put the damsels. Not sure what to think of that but for now (It may be naive but it makes me feel better) I want to think Mr frogfish will leave the damsels alone and love the silversides, squid, mysis and clams etc. that I plan on feeding him and want him to eat. Either way I guess he wont go hungry

Why don't you consider asking him to give you the damsels so you can take of them and have him euthanize the frogfish?
Sems like the ethical thing to do, right!

[Rogue951]

why would you want to euthanize the frogfish, it's a great species and not a common thing.
If he wanted to get rid of it then find another reefer willing to keep it.
Having the frogfish eat the damsels for food is a much better use of... the food chain than just killing the frogfish and throwing it away...
but this starts going into ethics.
to each their own. I have no problems with the food chain and one animal eating another.