Need help identifying a fish

I have a fish that i collected in the gulf of mexico. i've heard it called a "stone fish". It is brown in color, with a very large head and the body tappers sharply towards the small tail. it looks like a big head with a tail attached.
The fish has a ravenous appetite and nothing it can fit in it's mouth is safe. the spines are said to be venomous. it is in my 55 gal. predator tank as is doing fine. could anyone give me more info on this fish, or point me in the right direction? Thank You!

 

Try www.fishbase.org

 

WHOA!
You seriously have one of those?!?!!

Stone fish are considered one of the most dangerous fish in the world!! THEIR VENOM CAN KILL YOU.

I would seriously consider getting some anti-venom or giving it to a public aquarium if they will take it. Not worth getting killed when you clean the glass.

At the very least, the sting is EXTREMELY PAINFUL! [smiley=wreck.gif]

http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/students/focus/sverruc.htm

http://www.arabianwildlife.com/archive/vol2.1/stone.htm

 

Matt..you beat me to the post....holy smokes..you couldn't get me to keep one of those..here's a link I found, too, about the stonefish.
http://www.barrierreefaustralia.com/the-great-barrier-reef/stonefish.htm

If that's truly what you have, you're a brave man!

 

I wouldn't think it is a Reef Stonefish?? Since Snake said he caught it in the Gulf of Mexico, right? I am looking in my Audubon guide ...hmmmm, the Oyster Toadfish perhaps, (we affectionately call them Oyster Crackers up here cause their mouth snaps shup and not love nor money can git em off!!!) They are found from Cape Cod down to Florida? Perhaps?
Gotta picture?

 

Snake here is a link to some picks of an Oyster Toadfish that Birdlady was referring to. ;D................ John

http://www.gotosnapshot.com/Oyster_Toadfish/cwdata/FSH-34-HS001-002.html

 

Yup, thats the ugly suckers ;D

Snake,

do you have a pic??

 

Thanks Y'all!,
Birdlady is right on track, and thanks for the link Fletch. That is the Fish in question alright. You Folks are Great!
Snake

 

Glad to hear it's not a stone fish.
What's the info on the Toadfish? Anybody have a good link?

 

According to McClane's Fishing Encyclopedia:

This species is a member of the family Batrachoididae, a small family of shallow-water marine fishes with a worldwide distribution in tropical and temperate waters. The oyster Toadfish is found from the Gulf of Maine south to Miami, FL.

This species attains a maximum length of about 18" and a weight of a little over a pound. The males become larger and live longer (to 12 years compared to 7 for the females). Food consists of bottom-dwelling crustaceans and mollusks but some times small fishes and fish eggs are eaten.

This fish has no angling value. The flesh is edible, but individuals need to be handled with care since both the dorsal and opercular spines are poisonous.