Pea-Sized Wonder: Shedd Becomes First Known Aquarium to Raise Warty Frogfish Baby

A groundbreaking achievement at the Shedd Aquarium has captured attention as animal care experts successfully hatched and raised a warty frogfish (Antennarius maculatus)—believed to be the first time this species has ever been reared in an aquarium. Though currently only the size of a pea, this tiny fish represents a major scientific milestone, offering new insight into breeding and caring for rare marine species. This success also supports conservation efforts by helping reduce pressure on wild populations and creating potential “insurance” populations as environmental challenges increase.

Over a five-month period, aquarists carefully adjusted the frogfish’s environment, guiding it from fragile larval stages to a juvenile about 1 cm in size. The journey began in September 2025 when caretakers discovered a floating egg mass in a display tank. After relocating it to a controlled setting, thousands of larvae hatched, though only one survived. Using expertise from raising other species, the team fine-tuned water conditions, lighting, and feeding—ultimately sustaining the young fish on a diet of live brine shrimp cultivated in-house.

Now settled, the juvenile frogfish is already displaying classic adult behaviors like “walking” along surfaces with modified fins and using a lure to ambush prey. Native to tropical Indo-Pacific reefs, warty frogfish are known for their camouflage and unique hunting style. Shedd’s team continues to monitor the fish’s development while sharing findings with the scientific community, reinforcing the aquarium’s leadership in marine research and its commitment to advancing sustainable aquatic care. Head to the Shedd Aquarium's press release to learn more Pea-Sized Wonder: Shedd Aquarium Becomes First Known Aquarium to Raise Warty Frogfish Baby | Shedd Aquarium