Compatibility and tank size?

[tywtly13]

Ok, I have set up my ultimate wishlist for once I get moved and am able to set my bigger tanks back up, and I have some questions. My stocklist is as follows:
1 Volitans lion (classic, of course)
1 yellow leaf scorpion (as sold on this site)
1 frogfish (antennarius sp. sold here also)
maybe 1 or 2 other dwarf lions
Will these be ok together, and what is the minimum size tank I will need for these?

 

[skate020]

im not sure about the 3 lions together, but up untill the last 2 dwarf lions it seemed ok, im not sure about the 2 dwarfs aswell you'll have to ask cranberry on that, she's the lionfish queen.
the volitans will get big quick, so if its staying in perm, then IMO you need atleast 5ft swimming space, if not more, so about 100g-125g
the other fish i believe dont get that big, but the lions can get to full size in a year i've been told.
so yeh about 100g at a minimum

 

[tywtly13]

Haha well I'm gonna try to get her in here then. I don't have the resources for a 100 gal, so what could I change to be able to keep them in something smaller? If I lose the volitans, maybe replace them with the dwarfs?...So, new list would be like...
1 or 2 dwarf lions
frogfish
yellow leaf scorpion
would that be ok in a 55? And what else could I add to this list to that would work? I love fish like this, and I had a FOWLR with dwarf lions and a snowflake eel a while back, but when I moved I had to take it down...

 

[small triggers]

yeah, the dwarf lions w/ the angler and scorp would do okay in the 55, id go with a 75 just for something with a little more space and its only like a $20 difference...

 

[cranberry]

Hi there. I would nix the volitans in that size tank for sure. But it also wouldn't work with your wish list. He would eat all of them.
I would also bypass the angler. They can very well try to eat fish you would never think they would go for. Sometimes it ends in the dealth of both fish. But an even bigger concern is that you have no idea by the label antennarius sp., what you would end up getting. That label includes the whole group from a pygmy to one the size of a dinner plate.
What were you thinking of dwarf wise?
LOVE leaf fish. One of my favs.
These are all in grow out tanks ATM, but this is what is going into my 60g.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/363018/60g-scorpion-waspfish-anthias-tank

 

[tywtly13]

For dwarfs I was thinking of either fuzzy dwarfs or fu manchu's. And that sucks about the angler...it was one of the main reasons for setting up the tank lol. What about a Sargassum angler? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they stay smaller than most other species...would a sargassum angler work with a couple dwarf lions and the leaf fish? Sorry if I sound stubborn or un-yielding, but if there is any possible way I can keep an angler with the lions, I really want to know! Thank you for helping!

 

[tywtly13]

hello?

 

[tywtly13]

So would a sargassum angler work with a couple dwarf lions and a leaf fish?

 

[skate020]

i'd be careful with that, a sargassum maybe small but it'll still probably try eat a dwarf lion.
and as far as the dwarfs are concerned, FuManchu's are a NO unless you have alot of experience in lions, Cranberry willprobably back me on this as i wanted to have one once.
they are extremely hard to get to eat frozen, so unless you have a deep pocket or ALOT of live food about, you dont want one, fuzzy's would be perfect.
i think a warty angler would be ok? im not very knowledgeable about them tho so if someone else could chip in there.
but you can get anglers that get max about 2cm, i dont think they are available in the aquarium but yehh. check out this website about the anglers, i learnt a little bit with its help.
www.frogfish.ch
leaf fish as far as i know are wicked lil fish,

 

[rdub62]

No do not even try an angler with a venomous fish...
Anglers will eat anything they feel like, given that it is the size of their own body or smaller.
Most of the species of angler get 6-8" and some larger.
So any dwarf would def. be a no no.
Now if you want to base your tank around the angler, and forget about any leaf, or scorpion fish you would be doing your self a favor.
Or just one of the more hardy beginner scorpions I'm sure.
As far as anglers go...
As most aggressive fish they can go months and months without eating anything.
(I have a Long Lure Warty Angler that went 6 months before he started eating. Now he eats almost every week or at least every other week, and he is swallowing 1-2" damsels whole.)
They are very entertaining to watch.
They can walk upside down on live rock or around the edges of your tank, they gulp water to float upward and use their tail for direction.
They do not grow very fast though. And the younger you buy them the more care they usually take and sometimes are also very hard to get to take frozen food.

 

[tywtly13]

Ok, well I was at the Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg a few years ago, and they had a tank set up with like 4 big frogfish, would I be able to do that? Could I set up this tank for multiple frogfish? If so, what species would you recommend? I definitely don't want to buy fish that will eat each other!

 

[melypr1985]

Just my 2 cents here but I'm thinking that with your wishlist of fish and the direction your talking about going your gunna want something bigger than a 55 gallon tank. If I were you, I would start hunting the various websites that people sell their used goods on like craigs****. Or if there is a marine club in your area, start talking to them or hunt their website to see if they are selling any setups. Most of the time you can get a great deal and a larger tank than you would brand new. If they are a fellow reefer then they are more prone to help you out than try to make a buck. I would look for the largest tank you can afford then decide on which of your favorite fish to get. Again this is just my 2 cents and the way I went about getting my large tank. I bought my 90 for $100 with the stand, not too bad. Good luck! I love scorps so I can't wait to see your build thread when you start it up!

 

[rdub62]

Personally do not think it would be a good idea for 4 frog fish in 1, 55g tank.
They like to find different spots to "perch". Or different caves to sit in...
I would not even do more than 2 in a 100g to be honest.

 

[tywtly13]

Ok, well in this tank I am perfectly content to just have one frogfish. I'll get a sargassum or a zebra once I get it set up, then whenever I can get a larger tank I'll do a lion and scorpion tank. Thank you for your help, sorry for my stubborn-ness!