Ophioderma squamosissimum

Acclimation: like other Ophioderma, it copes very poorly with sudden changes in oxygen, salinity and pH. Acclimate it by drip and never expose it to air.

Setup: plenty of hiding places in the rock and room to roam. Reeflex recommends at least 200 L and rates it 'average'. One hobbyist reports it stays shy for a long time after arrival and then only shows itself when lured with food.

Tankmates: no species-specific source describes attacks on corals. One hobbyist on Reeflex found hermit crab remains near it as long as it was not fed directly, then no more losses once it was given frozen food: feed it regularly if you keep small crustaceans.

Sensitivities: no copper-based medication. Water: no species-specific source gives values; LiveAquaria's sheet for Caribbean Ophioderma lists 22 to 25.5 °C, a specific gravity of 1.023 to 1.025, pH 8.1 to 8.4 and 8 to 12 dKH.

Reeflex lists shellfish meat, detritus and frozen foods, in small and large sizes.

Although nocturnal, it usually learns to come out by day to eat. Give it small pieces of chopped meat, shrimp, mussel or fish, held close to its arms; one hobbyist feeds it every other day with pieces of about 5 mm.