Question About Lionfish

[grover19]

I want to get a Lionfish...badly.

But, im worried if he will eat my other small fish.

When i get livestock again, i will be getting some clown fish, pajama cardinals, and maybe some small damsels. Those will probably be the smallest fish in the tank. Other fish i will get again soon with be tangs, angelfish, etc.

So is this compatible???

Will the lionfish be to slow to catch my other small fish??? Also i should mention i want to get it as a baby.

Also, my LFS told me they will eat my shrimps, so what other bottom feeders should i load up on if i have no shrimps???

i have a 125 US gallon tank.

Thanks

 

[andywg]

Basically small fish and lionfish will equal an empty tank with a happy lionfish. They hang out under rocks and ambush the smaller fish, so eventually they will most likely end up on the menu.

Also, the venomous spines can interfere with corals, I know of one person who had to get rid of his lions because they were sitting on his corals and basically injecting them with venom.

The standard lionfish (Pterois volitans) gets to 15" without the tail and as such will happily munch on clowns and the like. The smallest lionfish (the fumanchu or Dendrochirus biocellatus) only get to 5 inches, so may be ok, but I would expect them to be looking at taking fish up to 2 or even 3" in size.

Generally lions should be kept in a tank with other larger fish that will not fit in their mouth. It should also be noted that keeping P. volitans with the dwarf species of lion (genus Dendrochirus) usually ends up with the dwarfs being lunch for the volitans. Though I would not feel happy about having a full grown volitans in a 125 tank. However a P. antennata or P. radiata would both look lovely and only get to around the 8" mark, but would have to be kept with larger fish than your current stock to be safe.

 

[SkiFletch]

I agree, the general rule of thumb for lions to be either species only or in a large tank with other large fish (tangs, angels, hogfish, etc)

 

[Chac]

As much as I agree with the above, I have seen Lionfish in a community reef with no loss's after years, but is is a big risk

 

[BWBettas]

In my experience with some tropical fish i don't know if it's the same for marines. It depends on their surroundings and tank mates who they grow up with. If they grow up in a tank with the same size fish E.G - clowns etc they will usually grow to know them and won't munch on them.

But anyway i don't even trust me anymore so i don't know whether it would work

Bret

 

[k.o.d]

I keep 2 Lions in my tank

P. Antennata is one of the smallest Pterois species and in my ( biased ) opinion, one of the best looking
They are predatory as you quite rightly say and I wouldnt trust it with anything less than probably 3" length, they are also difficult to get onto live foods

My other Lion is a Fuzzy dwarf, and this I would reccomend wholeheartedly if you want a Lionfish, it is a lot more active and bold than the Antennata and will swim up to the top of the tank to see if you are going to feed him.
They also have HUGE mouths and will fit more than you would ever believe ( he swallow whitebait whole )

These are they

 

[haulme]

Funny that you started this thread as I got my first ever marine fish today:

The Antennetta Lionfish.

I agree with KOD they are the best looking lionfish. My one is absolutely gorgeous however a note on your early question.

From my LFS I got about 10 feeder shrimp.

Just so it felt better aclimated I put the shrimp in the tank with the Lionfish.

This was about 5 hours ago.

I now have 3 feeder shrimp.

He absolutely wolfed them down, I think now he is really really full and is just swimming in one place ocassionaly turning.

My Lion is around 3 inches. It ate shrimp that were around 1/2 an inch. Its left the bigger shrimp now but I don't know if thats just cos he is full.

I think I might starve him for a day before feeding him.

 

[grover19]

Funny that you started this thread as I got my first ever marine fish today:

The Antennetta Lionfish.

I agree with KOD they are the best looking lionfish. My one is absolutely gorgeous however a note on your early question.

From my LFS I got about 10 feeder shrimp.

Just so it felt better aclimated I put the shrimp in the tank with the Lionfish.

This was about 5 hours ago.

I now have 3 feeder shrimp.

He absolutely wolfed them down, I think now he is really really full and is just swimming in one place ocassionaly turning.

My Lion is around 3 inches. It ate shrimp that were around 1/2 an inch. Its left the bigger shrimp now but I don't know if thats just cos he is full.

I think I might starve him for a day before feeding him.

Ohhh man that sucks!!!! Yea thats what i was worried about. I have 4 of those starfish that look like octopuses, so if i do get a Lionfish, thats all ill have then.

So guys whats the name of the smallest lionfish i can get again???

 

[haulme]

Fu man chu

But I wouldnt start of with them

They are harder to get eating and are bit more high strung.

Go for a fuzzy dwarf, dwarf zebra or Antenneta. Space permitting a Radiata and then if you have lots of room a Volitan.

I stuck with the dwarf species. I have a 55 US GAL tank but stocking a big lion means I would be limited with the fish I could keep with it and how many.

My aim is a dwarf with 2-3 larger fish.

If I got the volitan/radiata I could barely keep that happy in my tank as it is and definitely would not be able to house any more fish.

BTW read this guide. it is the best lionfish guide I read on the net

http/reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-11/fm/feature/index.php