Allenbatrachus grunniens (Grunting toadfish)

[Chizzow]

Heres my grunting toadfish :D
http://members.shaw.ca/procrastin8er/grunting.JPG (http://members.shaw.ca/procrastin8er/grunt.MPG)

Click picture for sound clip! this grunt is the mellow grunt...hopefully I'll get a full out p.o'd grunt sound clip soon :)

[CACAdmin]

Neat... nice that he just appears to pose for the camera. I know nothing about these fish. Where does he get his name? Does he actually grunt?

[MobileImage]

Cool fish Danny:yes: Take more pics when they grow to a foot.

[Melody]

That's funny - when Jay added the forum I wondered what a Toadfish was. Get outa my head! lol

That has to be one of the oddest fish in freshwater. His face has a lot of character though, I must say.

They get big - what else can you tell me about them? There has to be a story behind that name :laugh: .

Thanks for taking the time to share him with us.

[Chizzow]

Good to see people are somewhat intrigued by this oddball.

For starters, this fish is found in fresh all the way to full marine waters, thus a brackish fish. The name comes from the noise it produce when its upset/irritated. The sound does range from a mellow bok-bok-bok to a full out gurgly growl. Not an active fish but highly predatorial.

A very simliar toadfish is used in a NASA project, here's a link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/10/981031180101.htm

I just noticed that the admin used the examples I gave them for predatory/oddballs in the main menu. :D

[CACAdmin]

So, basically, what you're saying is that if you upset your toadfish, they're going to keep you awake at night. :laugh:

[CACAdmin]

Your thread made me curious. Off I went to look for more info on Toadfish. I came across one about a 'Humming Toadfish'. It's a marine (not fresh or brackish water) fish and I haven't found any reference of it being kept by hobbyists, but is a local critter here on the West Coast apparently. I was wondering if it is related to your Grunting Toadfish. Here's the article: http://www.naturalhistory.bc.ca/VNHS/Discovery/OldIssues/Discovery%2031-1%20Article.htm

[Melody]

Good to see people are somewhat intrigued by this oddball.

For starters, this fish is found in fresh all the way to full marine waters, thus a brackish fish. The name comes from the noise it produce when its upset/irritated. The sound does range from a mellow bok-bok-bok to a full out gurgly growl. Not an active fish but highly predatorial.

A very simliar toadfish is used in a NASA project, here's a link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/10/981031180101.htm

I just noticed that the admin used the examples I gave them for predatory/oddballs in the main menu. :D

I'm not sure I'm ready for fish that growl at me...lol. What do you feed him?

[jones]

man that little fellah looks cool!!!

thanks for postin the pic, what do you keep him with?

and you wouldnt happen to have, persay, an underwater microphone whould you?
hahahahah

all the best,
jones

[Chizzow]

I'm not sure I'm ready for fish that growl at me...lol. What do you feed him?

Unfortunately, these guys were being fed feeders beforehand, but are now slowly taking prawns, rosies and chunks of beefheart.

man that little fellah looks cool!!!

thanks for postin the pic, what do you keep him with?

and you wouldnt happen to have, persay, an underwater microphone whould you?
hahahahah

all the best,
jones

I have two of them in a 40 gallon. No need for a microphone, you can hear them loud and clear outside of the tank!:D

Jay: Half way down your article, it suggests that the singing fish is part of the toadfish family.

[blainep]

Thats an awesome fish !
Love the big lips and whiskers look :laugh: .

[CACAdmin]

Jay: Half way down your article, it suggests that the singing fish is part of the toadfish family.


I was wondering because one is marine, the other fresh/brackish water and often common names can apply to numerous fish. However, I see now that they are both of the Batrachoididae family.

[Melody]

Love the big lips and whiskers look


That's good, because that's what old women look like. That's right Blaine, the romance of growing old together looks like that fish in reality.:laugh:

[Chizzow]

That's good, because that's what old women look like. That's right Blaine, the romance of growing old together looks like that fish in reality.:laugh:

and they grunt too! :twitcy:

[Melody]

:rofl: and they can be very aggressive...

[blainep]

Where is that 'Shaking my head in disbelief' smiley :rofl:

[mixixe]

oooh i really like that fish! I think its soo cute, it has a friendly face.

[Soggybottom]

And pretty blue eyes :)

[Melody]

Thank you, but they're green.

OH the fish! Face only a fish addict could love lol.

[Aquafaciata]

So that is where that old 33 gal tank was put to use . . . LOL.

[Melody]

Cool fish . . . Ugly and good looking at the same time


That's the ticket! They're so ugly, they're cute.:D He seriously does have character though - even the most beautiful fish are somewhat boring when you think about it. Like beauty in any species I suppose - nice to look at but lacking substance if that is the only quality.

And they grunt!:laugh:

[Chizzow]

These fish are actually fairly active at night! Funny as it may seem, but their swimming style is rather graceful. Their fins flutter like those of the knife fish family:yes:

More pics coming soon.

[Melody]

I was just going to ask for more pic's actually, him being such a popular fishy around here. A video of him swimming would be cool.

I daresay he knew all along how attractive he was. Dumb humans. :laugh:

[CACAdmin]

You're probably right, Melody. He likely figures we're a pretty strange looking species. :laugh:

[Melody]

He probably thinks that old female humans with whiskers and big lips are hotties :rofl:

[Chizzow]

Sound clip available! refer to first post

[CACAdmin]

Thanks for the soundclip... that's really something!

[Corbin]

Whoa thats way too coool, Lucky guy!

[Melody]

That is SO cool! I thought it was something when the Yo Yo Loaches clicked at the surface, but this is way cooler....lol.

You should teach him to say 'Daddy' and go on America's Funniest Home Videos :laugh: .