Bad News

[martinc909]

So I decide to finally get a Fuzzy Dwarf Lion. I got him last week on monday and he died on thursday. I was finally just going to wait a while until I put anymore fish. i have 2 damsels, 1 cinn clown, and orange striped goby. Then for this Valentines day my mom got me another lionfish. that one died today when I arrived from high school. We went to the fish store and I told them what happened and they said that they will do the tests tomorrow. So I was looking around and I asked her what is a minimum requirement for a Volitan Lionfish. She took out a book and there it said 55 gallons. and I thought I might consider on getting one because mine is 55 gallons. So I think that they would probably let me trade in my fish for a Smaller volitan. I'm thinking on getting it just that I want to get rid of my otherfish. and in about a couple of weeks go for the Volitan. Is 55g too small or is it just enough to keep one single VOLITAN.
I also have this Berlin Airlift Protein Skimmer. and when the bubbles reach the top they don't come out black anymore. It just looks like clean water. It fills back up again in less that 20 minutes. Is there anything I should do to the skimmer. Should I get a different airpump or should I keep that airpump and use the second opening for something else.
SO WOULD A VOLITAN BE GOOD IN A 55G TANK.

 

[surfinusa]

i belive the absoulute minimum is 75 so go for a dwarf it wont work for a volitan lion fish

 

[psusocr1]

volitans get HUGE! 55 just wont due!

 

[55galsw]

Does any one know how fast they grow?

 

[nw2sltfsh]

Mine was purchased in December and was maybe 4-5 inches long at that point - He is now 10 inches long - I was amazed at how fast he is growing. I was much more accostomed to my foxface that seemed to take forever to get to that size
But I guess if I eat as much as he does I would grow fast as well

 

[lion_crazz]

My volitan has trippled in size in about a year. I would definitely say no volitan in a 55.
One thing I will ask you, did you watch ANY of these deceased lions eat before you purchased them? This would have made the difference between life and death, in my opinion (assuming of course that you have proper water quality).

 

[55galsw]

Thanks for clearing the size issue up.Onwe thing i did know was not 2 put a volitan lion in a 55.
I saw one at sea world one time and it was HUGE.
Also my friend has on ein a 210 gallon and it makes the tank look small

 

[unleashed]

my smaller volitan lion was less than 2 inches at time of purchase last feb hes now going on 8 inches i have another in my 125 hes 12 inches.mine are both very active day and night with periodic naps during the day.i dont recomend in a 55 for much more than 3 months thats about how long it took for mine to out grow the 55 mine started in b4 moving him to a 120 hes now in a 300

 

[dragonzim]

I had a volitan grow about 8 inches in a year.

 

[cartman101]

Speaking from my own experience, volitans are fast growers! And Definitly need a bigger tank then a 55gal. A 75gal isn't suitable either,JMO. I think one can live quite well in a 90gal+ system. But there are plenty of fish to choose from for your size tank.

 

[jr2857]

they grow 16in or more and they barely have room to turn in a 55.

 

[lion_crazz]

Originally Posted by jr2857
they grow 16in or more and they barely have room to turn in a 55.
hmm, never heard of a volitan getting 16+. Most top off around 15.

 

[maeistero]

:thinking: what fish store wouldn't test your water immediately? that's preposterous

if you ask me, they wanted your test rates to rise for a day due to the death so they could blame it on you. i've not been to a place that wouldn't test even in thier last minutes.

 

[pfitz44]

what were you feeding the lions???
ive got a dwarf in my 55. Hes been in there since mid-late november. Got him and he was about 1.5 inches, now hes 3. They grow to be about 6 or so.
The reason im asking about the food is b/c freshwater feeder fish are noo good for lions.

 

[pfitz44]

Originally Posted by jr2857
they grow 16in or more and they barely have room to turn in a 55.
as stated b4, they top of at 15. a 55 is 13" wide. Were are you getting the barely part??? how bout not at all??

 

[lion_crazz]

I agree. The notion of "barely" makes it seem like it could exist in a 55 whereas the reality is that a full grown, or growing volitan lion, will not survive in a 55 gallon aquarium.