Allenbatrachus grunniens

The Grunting Toadfish, also known as the Freshwater Toadfish, is a unique bottom-dwelling fish known for its broad, flattened head and sedentary lifestyle. Its appearance is excellently suited for camouflaging on the aquarium floor, where it spends most of its time waiting patiently. This is not a fish for a first-time fish keeper, as it has specific needs that can be challenging to meet. Chief among these is its requirement for brackish water, which is a mix of fresh and salt water—it cannot live in a standard freshwater tank long-term.

Due to its territorial nature, the Grunting Toadfish prefers to live alone. It has a very large mouth and will eat any tank mate small enough to be considered a meal. A spacious tank with lots of floor space is essential, but you should avoid strong water currents as it prefers calm water. It is a carnivore that must be fed meaty foods like frozen shrimp or worms; it will not eat typical fish flakes. Because it has a slow metabolism and doesn't move much, it only needs to be fed every other day. If you're looking for an unusual, solitary 'pet' fish with a lot of character, the Grunting Toadfish is a fascinating choice, but requires dedication to its specific environment.