Lantern Anglerfish

Melanocetus lucerna (fabled)

Its glowing lure is powered by living bacteria. It needs frigid water – only a chiller can bring the abyss home.

A predatory saltwater fish that grows to 18 cm, lives near the bottom and needs 8–16 °C, pH 7.8–8.4 and an aquarium of at least 120 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Saltwater

Temperature

8–16 °C (46–61 °F)

pH

7.8–8.4

Adult size

18 cm (7.1 in)

Aquarium

120 L or bigger (32 US gal)

Temperament

Predator

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Bottom

Diet

Carnivore

Wild home

The midnight zone, 2,000 m down

Good to know

• Bioluminescent. Glows in the dark.
• Shy. Stressed without plants, rocks or caves to hide in.

Tank mates

Good company: Leafy Seadragon.

Will eat: Banggai Cardinalfish, Coral Beauty, Firefish Goby, Flame Angelfish, Flame Hawkfish, Green Chromis, Harlequin Shrimp, Mandarin Dragonet, Neon Goby, Ocellaris Clownfish, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Peppermint Angelfish and 6 more.

Attacks: Aurora Moon Jelly, Flower Hat Jelly.

Attacked by: Clown Triggerfish.

Eats the newborn fry of: Seahorse.

Colours

• Abyssal mythic
• Hellfire mythic

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.