Has anyone kept leopard toadfish (Opsanus pardus) before?

squidpasta · Aug 19, 2025

Hello! I've been scheming about keeping this species for a little while now. They live here, though offshore- they don't seem to be circulated in the aquarium trade very much (if at all??) and my best bet on actually getting one seems to hinge on booking a fishing charter and looking like a bit of a freak, asking to keep the 'mother-in-law' fish, live, in my water-filled cooler.

...Anyway, does anyone have any experience keeping leopard toadfish? Or Opsanus, just in general? I know it's not ideal, but I have a 20 long with a lot of rockwork that could probably host a smallish one for a time, at least. I doubt it would bother a barbfish, if they were to live together...

Any stories about other Opsanus species welcome, by the way. I'm interested in toadfish in general!

Rocks reef · Aug 20, 2025

Sounds pretty interesting, but keeping one in a 20 gallon tank will be cruel. These fish can reach 12-13" long. They are also predatory with veracious appetites.

squidpasta · Aug 20, 2025

Rocks reef said:
Sounds pretty interesting, but keeping one in a 20 gallon tank will be cruel. These fish can reach 12-13" long. They are also predatory with veracious appetites.

Oh yes, I'm aware. I'm not planning on keeping a full-sized specimen in a 20gal- That's just not feasible. A juvenile, maybe, but I'll be upgrading whenever the opportunity arises anyway.

littlefoxx · Aug 21, 2025

squidpasta said:
Hello! I've been scheming about keeping this species for a little while now. They live here, though offshore- they don't seem to be circulated in the aquarium trade very much (if at all??) and my best bet on actually getting one seems to hinge on booking a fishing charter and looking like a bit of a freak, asking to keep the 'mother-in-law' fish, live, in my water-filled cooler.

...Anyway, does anyone have any experience keeping leopard toadfish? Or Opsanus, just in general? I know it's not ideal, but I have a 20 long with a lot of rockwork that could probably host a smallish one for a time, at least. I doubt it would bother a barbfish, if they were to live together...

Any stories about other Opsanus species welcome, by the way. I'm interested in toadfish in general!

Look for Lion King’s profile on here, he has lots of articles in keeping predators like that!