Weedy Scorpionfish

The Weedy Scorpionfish is the most well-known member of the legendary Rhinopias genus and one of the most sought-after fish in the entire marine aquarium hobby. Its body is covered with elaborate, leaf-like and weed-like dermal appendages that give it an appearance reminiscent of a piece of living seaweed or a cluster of algae-covered rubble. The coloration is extraordinarily variable, with individuals appearing in solid or mottled patterns of red, purple, pink, yellow, white, brown, or lavender, making each specimen essentially a unique work of art.

In the wild, Rhinopias frondosa has the widest distribution of any Rhinopias species, found across the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean from South Africa and the Maldives to Indonesia, the Philippines, and southern Japan. It inhabits rubble slopes, silty reefs, and areas with soft coral growth at depths of 10 to 90 meters. Like its congeners, it is a specialized ambush predator that sits motionless among reef debris, using its extraordinary camouflage to ambush small fish and crustaceans. It is known to slowly rock back and forth, mimicking the motion of algae or soft coral in the current.

In the aquarium, the Weedy Scorpionfish is a prized but expensive specimen that has proven surprisingly adaptable to captive life. While less rare than R. aphanes, it still commands prices of several hundred to several thousand dollars depending on coloration. Most specimens accept frozen foods within days of acclimation. The fish is venomous, with potent dorsal spines that demand respect. A dedicated predator tank of 75 gallons or more with subdued lighting and appropriate substrate provides the ideal captive environment.