Red Eschmeyer’s Scorpionfish (Rhinopias Eschmeyeri)

Care Level : Intermediate

Temperament : Semi-aggressive

Color : Red, Lilac, Orange, Yellow

Diet : Carnivore

Reef Compatible : With Caution

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 7.5 inches

Family : Scorpaenidae

Minimum Tank Size : 30 gallons

Origin : Indo-West Pacific

Red Eschmeyer’s Scorpionfish (Rhinopias Eschmeyeri)  or Paddle-flap Scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. 

The Red Eschmeyer’s Scorpionfish has a deep, laterally compressed body, eyes that are set high on top of its head and two tentacles on the underside of its lower jaw. This fish is venomous like many scorpionfish so be careful! It has venomous spines on its back and fins, with a groove and venom sack (venom is secreted from the sack and coats the spines). It’s body color is usually uniform and can be brick red, lilac, orange or yellow. The skin appendages are unbranched and flattened. Like other scorpionfish, the Eshmeyer’s, is camouflaged well with tassels, warts and colored specks. This species attains a maximum known total length of 7.5 inches (19 cm). 

Rhinopias Eschmeyeri adapt easily to captivity, and because they are relatively inactive, they can be kept in small aquariums of at least 30 gallons. Since they are ambush predators they do not need a lot of swimming space but instead places to hide or utilize their camouflage. Being poor swimmers they tend to either make short hops across the bottom or crawl on their pelvic fins rather than swimming. They will usually wedge themselves into a strategic position using their pelvic fins and sit and wait for their prey.

Tankmates must be peaceful so as not to nip its large fins, and large enough not to be eaten. These fish are generally safe in reef aquariums as they do not eat corals or polyps, but take extra care to know where the fish is located as they may blend in very well with the rocks and corals. Do not keep these fish with shrimp, crabs or fish small enough to be eaten.

These fish are voracious predators. Rhinopias Eschmeyeri can be fed a variety of frozen and prepared meaty foods like shrimp, clams, scallops, krill and other similar foods, but some may need live food like small feeder fish or ghost shrimp to trigger a feeding response. Because these are sedentary fish, their metabolism is quite low and three or four feedings per week should suffice nicely.