Encyclopaedia
Leaf Goblinfish
Neovespicula depressifrons
An unusual and venomous brackish scorpionfish, camouflaging itself as a dead leaf on the sandy bottom.
- Family
- Tetrarogidae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacifico: acque salmastre ed estuari di Indonesia, Filippine, Nuova Guinea e Tailandia.
- Origin
- Tropical oceans and reefsExtra-Amazon South AmericaAfrica and MadagascarSouth and Southeast AsiaAustralia, New Guinea, and Oceania
- Tank use
- Used in 0 tanks
Share
22 °C - 28 °C
7.5 - 8.5
Brackish / Marine
Bottom
10 cm
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Muddy estuaries and shallow mangrove bays of the Western Indo-Pacific. Often buries itself in substrate.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Family Tetrarogidae. Compressed brown body with a high arched head and venomous dorsal spines. Reaches 10 cm.
Social Behavior: Sedentary ambush predator. Mimics a floating dead leaf by rocking side-to-side on the substrate.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Mottled brown, grey, and black patterns for perfect leaf camouflage. No external dimorphism.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Soft, deep sand substrate is required. Decorate with smooth stones and roots. Avoid sharp objects.
Diet and Feeding: Predator. Feeds on live ghost shrimp and small feeder fish. Can be trained to take frozen foods using a feeding stick.
Water Quality: Requires brackish water (SG 1.005-1.010) or marine water. Highly sensitive to organic waste buildup.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Best kept in a single-specimen tank.
Spines are venomous:; do not keep with bottom-dwelling competitors.
Aquarium Breeding: Breeding has not been achieved in home aquariums due to their secretive nature.
Risks and Diseases: Envenomation hazard. Sting from dorsal spines is extremely painful. Exercise extreme caution during maintenance.
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Predatore d'agguato calmo; possiede spine dorsali altamente velenose
- Diet
- Carnivoro, si nutre di piccoli pesci vivi e crostacei
- Tank level
- Bottom
- Minimum group
- 1
- Adult size
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank volume
- 100 L
- GH
- n/a
- KH
- n/a
- TDS
- n/a
- Conductivity
- n/a
- Feeding frequency
- 1 volta al giorno
- Bioload
- Medio
- Flow
- Lieve
- Reproduction
- Riproduzione sconosciuta in acquariofila.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Da tenere in vasche monospecifiche o con compagni grandi e veloci. <strong>Attenzione: velenoso</strong>.
Ecological Estimates & Biological Models
- Trophic level
- 3.2 ± 0.3 se
- Resilience
- Medium (1.4 - 4.4 years)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 1
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.01905, b = 3.03
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Other recommended species with similar care requirements and water parameters.
