Lionfish, I Think I Want One.

[VictorMeldrew]

Hi All

I am really tempted to get a lionfish (volitan...sp?) but am still not 100% as i am pretty sure i will have to offload some of my fish first.

My current fish stock is as follows:

Yellow Tang
Regal Tang
Foxface rabbit fish
Coral Beauty
Leopard wrasse, approx 4 inch
Yellow Tail spotted wrasse 2.5 inch
Chormis x 2
Commen Clownfish
Cleaner Shrimp x 2 medium sized

I realise i will proberly have to take out the clown and the chromis but what about the rest? I am thinking most are ok but am not sure about the shrimp or the smaller wrasse. I rang around a few lfs's today and have found one which has been described as being about 10cm long not including spines or anything.

Please help me decide what to do, future stocking idea's if i do get this fish would also be great.

Thanks
VM

 

[rabbut]

An adult Volitans is capable of taking pray up to about 6-8", so the clowns, chromic, shrimp and smaller wrasses are all potential lunch. I cannot see anything there that is likely to be a problem other than that, but then I'm not familiar with a lot of your stocking

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Hi Rabbut

I have accepted that i will need to take out the chromis and clown at this stage, my wrasse's and shrimp would be fairly large by the time the lionfish gets big (i think) the lionfish is only 10cm at the moment, 6/8" is that always the case? Thanks for your help so far

VM

 

[mixmaster jay]

lion fish are my fave marine fish they are stunning (as far as fish go lol) but they have quite nasty stings like a bee sting on steriods my lsf siad lol

they feed primarily on small fish and crustaceans if i remember rightly

 

[rabbut]

Shrimp are part of a Lionfish's natural diet, so yes, they will be lunch later, even if large I've seen Volitans that are hungry take prey the same size as them (a 4" Volitans took one of works £125 4" Queen Angels.... Boss was not happy) but under normal tank conditions they are not likely to take anything quite that large, as they will be well fed Usually though, if it's 2/3 it's size or less, it is at risk if you miss a feed or two

 

[Trod]

Yep I agree I think your shrimps will become dinner at some stage.
If you keep your lion well fed (But do not over feed!!!) they Should leave the other fish alone, but to be honest, Its like everything else in marine, it depends on the individual fish
I think a lion would look lovely in your tank, and its worth the risk, but then I am bias, as I love them

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Hi all

I am still not sure folks. When i read mixmaster's post i was still thinking yes, i am not overly concerned about being stung, i will just be extra careful when my hands are in the tank, then i read rabbut's second post and started to think no way.
To be honest i am a little worried about keeping a tank without cleaner's as my regal seems to have bout's of whitespot and is always getting cleaned, will he be ok without them? I have recently been told that cleaner shrimp do not actually eat whitespot omly dead skin cells, is this true? The regal is also quite small and judgeing by what Rabbut has seen, a 4" lion eating a 4" fish, he could well be in with a chance of being eaten.
Then i have just read your post Trod and you may well have changed my mind again, it would be very special would'nt it, I would love to keep one,its just such a big risk. I just can not decide. I also have an added problem, where do i sell my chromis and clown, no shop's seem to be interested in any form of trade.

Thanks
VM

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Ok, lets pretend i sell all the fish in my tank, how would this stocking sound?

2 x Lionfish largish and a nice Trigger fish (not sure which one yet)

What other options do i have with 2 lions?

Thanks
VM

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Actually forget the trigger, they are not reef safe are they.

 

[rabbut]

They aren't usually, no, and they can nip the fins of lionfish also

Cleaner shrimp are specialist parasite cleaners so should take WS off the fish. If the regal keeps going down with stuff, look for stress causes and see if there is anything upsetting it. Some people state that they are very prone to WS in captivity, but I know of a fair few that keep them without UV or any kind of parasite cleaners My opinions of disease is that is comes around due to stress, and if you can find the cause of stress and remove it, the disease will not come back

All the best
Rabbut

 

[shibby]

Actually forget the trigger, they are not reef safe are they.

bluethroat, sargassum or pinktail i would class as reef safe, or crosshatch if you have money in the bank!

 

[rabbut]

How likely are those four to nip at the Lionfish though?

 

[Trod]

I wouldn't keep any trigger with a lion, they are prone to nip at the fins, and ultimately kill the lion

Have you thought about the smaller lions, What about a Pterois antennata with a Dendrochirus brachypterus, Dwarf Lionfish

Have a look at the link below, it might help you

[URL="http/www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-11/...ature/index.php"]http/www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-11/...ature/index.php[/URL]

I think your Tangs and Foxface rabbit fish would be fine. what about a large angel too?

 

[shibby]

How likely are those four to nip at the Lionfish though?

wouldnt expect them too really, would expect a large angel to do more damage being boistorous, though that of course depends on what large angel.

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Just to let you know guys, my moment of madness is over, i have decided against the lionfish after finding out alot about them i now know that they are not for me, maybe one day they will be but not now and not in the tank i have at the moment.

Thanks again everyone
VM