Dragonfish (Black)
Image: J Stone; N Mallick; A Barth; R Rykaczewski and A Schmidt (CC0)
NameDragonfish (Black)
Scientific NameIdiacanthus antrostomus
Common NamesBlack Dragonfish, Pacific Black Dragonfish, Deepsea Dragonfish
FamilyStomiidae
OriginPacific Ocean, Deep Sea
Temperamentaggressive
Dietcarnivore
Care Levelexpert
Max Size (Inches)16
Water TypeSaltwater
Temperature Range (°F)34-40
pH Range7.5-8.0
Description
The Black Dragonfish (Idiacanthus antrostomus) is a fascinating deep-sea predator known for its elongated, eel-like body, bioluminescent organs, and formidable teeth. Females are significantly larger than males and possess a prominent barbel under their chin. This species inhabits the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones of the Pacific Ocean, where it hunts other fish and crustaceans in complete darkness and is not suitable for home aquariums.
