Anglerfish Costume
Light up the deep sea with a glowing bioluminescent lure.
The anglerfish is a fascinating deep-sea predator known for its terrifying needle-like teeth and the glowing lure dangling over its head. It is a popular choice for science lovers and those wanting a unique, slightly scary marine look. This costume centers around a dark, scaly body, a mouth full of sharp teeth, and a functional light-up lure.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~60 min
- Budget
- $25–85
Try it on
See yourself as Anglerfish
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Anglerfish costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Anglerfish costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Dark base layer
A black, dark blue, or deep purple hooded sweatshirt and matching sweatpants or leggings.
DIY: Use any dark, comfortable clothing you already own.
Glowing lure (illicium)
A flexible wire or headband extending forward with a battery-operated LED light or glow stick at the tip.
DIY: Shape a wire hanger, wrap it in black felt, and tape a battery-powered LED tea light or glow stick to the end.
Fins
Spiky, ribbed fins made of stiff felt, tulle, or EVA foam attached to the back and arms.
DIY: Cut fin shapes out of stiff dark felt and safety-pin them to the sleeves and back of your hoodie.
Sharp teeth
Large, menacing pointed teeth lining the rim of the hood.
DIY: Cut long, pointed triangle teeth out of white craft foam or felt and fabric-glue them inside the rim of the hood.
Large fish eyes
Two oversized, glossy black or yellow eyes positioned on the sides of the hood.
DIY: Cut large circles out of yellow and black felt and glue them to the sides of the hood.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Anglerfish costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the dark hooded sweatshirt and matching pants.
- 2
Attach the white foam triangle teeth along the inner edge of the hood using safety pins or fabric glue so they point downward around your face.
- 3
Glue or pin the large felt eyes onto the sides of the hood, just above the temple area.
- 4
Secure the flexible wire lure to the top of the hood or mount it on a headband worn underneath the hood, curving it forward so the light hangs in front of your face.
- 5
Attach the felt fins to the spine of the sweatshirt and along the back of the sleeves.
- 6
Turn on the LED light or crack the glow stick right before heading out into the dark.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair tucked completely inside the hood. Apply dark blue, black, or purple face paint around your eyes to blend your face into the dark interior of the 'mouth' hood.
Anglerfish for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with a scuba diver in full gear, complete with a DIY oxygen tank made from painted soda bottles.
- group
- Create a deep-sea crew with a giant squid, a jellyfish using an umbrella with ribbons, and a glowing anglerfish.
- kids
- Use a cozy black zip-up onesie, attach soft felt teeth to the hood, and use a safe glow stick on a pipe cleaner for the lure.
- Plus size
- An oversized black or navy poncho works excellently as the fish body, providing plenty of room to attach fins and teeth.
- pet
- A black dog vest with a flexible wire pipe cleaner and a lightweight green glow stick attached to the collar.
Tips
- Ensure the glowing lure is positioned high enough that it does not block your vision while walking.
- Use battery-operated LED fairy lights wrapped in sheer white fabric for a softer, more organic bioluminescent glow.
- Wear dark gloves to keep your hands hidden and maintain the illusion of a deep-sea creature.
Anglerfish costume FAQ
- How do you make the anglerfish light glow?
- You can use a battery-powered LED tea light, a small clip-on book light, or a standard glow stick attached to a flexible wire.
- Is there an easy store-bought version?
- Yes, inflatable anglerfish costumes with built-in fans and light-up lures are widely available online.
- How do I make the teeth look realistic?
- Cut long, slightly curved fangs out of white EVA foam or stiff felt so they hold their shape and don't flop around.
Did you know? Only female anglerfish possess the famous glowing lure, which is filled with millions of bioluminescent bacteria that help them attract prey in the pitch-black midnight zone of the ocean.