Synodontid care? Why are lizardfish absent from the hobby?

[Alpha_and_Gec]

Never in my life have I seen any aquarist or public aquarium keep any species of lizardfish, which seems curious. Is there any specific care requirements that these animal have, or are they simply too predatory to fit in most aquaria?

 

[KrisReef]

Yes, they eat The Dory, The Nemo, and probably even Sponge Bob! They have significant dentition that could rip a hole outta a thick glove.

I don't think I have ever seen one offered for sale but I have caught them in off shore trawls now and again. :cool:

 

[Reeflix]

those fish have a nasty bite! caught one fishing in NC. wouldnt be suprised if it ate the inhabitents of a predator tank!

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

Yes, they eat The Dory, The Nemo, and probably even Sponge Bob! They have significant dentition that could rip a hole outta a thick glove.

I don't think I have ever seen one offered for sale but I have caught them in off shore trawls now and again. :cool:

Same deal occurs with large freshwater catfish(and the gulper cat) and gars yet they are commonly kept. I can see them being risky to your fingers though. Maybe a small species would work in a species only tank. They may also only accept live fish as food, although I don't see a reason why they can't be weaned onto frozen.
Sauries are also lizardfish, is there any aquaculture attempts going on? Maybe we can gain some insight into their aquaculture and that of Harpadon nehereus.

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

those fish have a nasty bite! caught one fishing in NC. wouldnt be suprised if it ate the inhabitents of a predator tank!

needly teeth they've got. It'd trigger my trypanophobia if they weren't curved and translucent. There are also other groups under aulopiforms that I don't know why no one keep though, such as the lizardfish sanddivers(Pseudotrichonotus).

Although actual sanddivers seems to be in the trade and not that expensive, which pleases me greatly.
https://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productDetail.asp?did=1&pid=6313&cid=18

 

[KrisReef]

Same deal occurs with large freshwater catfish(and the gulper cat) and gars yet they are commonly kept. I can see them being risky to your fingers though. Maybe a small species would work in a species only tank. They may also only accept live fish as food, although I don't see a reason why they can't be weaned onto frozen.
Sauries are also lizardfish, is there any aquaculture attempts going on? Maybe we can gain some insight into their aquaculture and that of Harpadon nehereus.

They are certainly an interesting predator but they have not caught on like Lionfish, triggers, groupers. I think they would eat a ton of fresh live food and be messy which may explain why they have not been caught up in the trade?

Almost nothing on the web.

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

They are certainly an interesting predator but they have not caught on like Lionfish, triggers, groupers. I think they would eat a ton of fresh live food and be messy which may explain why they have not been caught up in the trade?

Almost nothing on the web.

Sad. They're such awesome looking fish. Even getting some bombay ducks in from the food trade would be great, although they seem more pelagic than the rest.

What I'd give for a tiny lancetfish....

 

[KrisReef]

Sad. They're such awesome looking fish. Even getting some bombay ducks in from the food trade would be great, although they seem more pelagic than the rest.

What I'd give for a tiny lancetfish....

I wonder how much food (feeding one large frozen fish a week or small items nX's/day) would be required to keep one long term? Questions like this make me sad I don't live in the tropics near a coral reef where I could catch one and get some answers to their care requirements in captivity.

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

I wonder how much food (feeding one large frozen fish a week or small items nX's/day) would be required to keep one long term? Questions like this make me sad I don't live in the tropics near a coral reef where I could catch one and get some answers to their care requirements in captivity.

I'd think similar to a frogfish or lionfish, especially for benthic species. The ones I like are ambush predators that don't seem to eat often. Bombay ducks seem to be filter feeders or small prey specialists? and a lancetfish would probably be much the same, but much larger.

 

[KrisReef]

I loved feeding the predators at the LFS when i worked there! The different hunting behaviors all have there charm if you like that sort of thing. I generally tried to avoid having random shoppers around when I dropped in the prey. Most folks were amazed but some were obviously disturbed by the show.

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

I loved feeding the predators at the LFS when i worked there! The different hunting behaviors all have there charm if you like that sort of thing. I generally tried to avoid having random shoppers around when I dropped in the prey. Most folks were amazed but some were obviously disturbed by the show.

Predators are usually my favorite things to keep, especially if they fertilized things or did pest control. Back in my fresh days I kept a stingray that ate pellet and shrimp, and he acted like a pancake roomba. Might be the reason I want a horseshoe crab now.

Tank wishlist currently includes a richardson eel and longnose hawk... but it also includes clownfish and a royal gramma so who knows what I'll get.

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

turns out saury is a common name used across both beloniforms(needlefish et al) and some Saurida lizardfish… neither are being farmed though. Not enough commercial value I guess.