Neovespicula depressifrons CareSheet

Neovespicula depressifrons (Leaf Goblinfish) is an extremely unusual oddball species found in marine and brackish environments in the Indo-West Pacific. This unusual fish has a small size and a calm attitude. The Leaf Goblinfish is a fascinating, uncommon fish that would make an excellent addition to any weird fish keeper's collection. These tetrarogids, like other scorpaeniformes (scorpionfish), are poisonous, with glands at the base of some spines, thus use caution while netting and maintaining them. The "Butterfly Goby" is a common name for this fish, however it is not a goby.

In nature, the Leaf Goblinfish is a micropredator. It has been shown to consume frozen and live meaty items of reasonable size. Dry feeds are usually not accepted by this fish. The Leaf Goblinfish is a robust and amusing fish as long as it is kept in a well-maintained, mature aquarium. It will have no effect on aquarium plants. While it can survive in complete freshwater for a short period of time, it needs at least gently brackish water to thrive in the long run, and we keep this species in brackish water at our facility.

The Leaf Goblinfish gets along well with most similarly sized, gentle fish. Because the Leaf Goblinfish is a venomous predator, it is best maintained in a tank without any nippy, loud, or aggressive fish.

Requirements for keeping Neovespicula depressifrons

Temperature: 72° - 79° F (22° - 26° C)
pH: 7.0 - 8.0
Minimum tank size: 30 gallons for a single specimen or pair, 75+ gallons for a group
Origin: West Indo-Pacific
Average adult size: 4 inches (10 cm)