Fuzzy Dwarf Lion

[pasafire]

I have a new fuzzy dwarf lion he's approx 3" long. He was originally hiding in the LR around the tank. Now he is in the top corner... Is this bad??? I haven't gotten him to eat yet. I have only tried feeding him frozen mysis so far. The LFS are closed today. I need to know what to get. I believe I was told to feed him krill? What live food besides brine can I use to get him to start eating? I will worry about weaning him off of live after we at least get him to eat SOMETHING. I was just worried about the whole top of the tank thing since I read they are basically bottom / LR dwellers...

 

[jr2857]

feed him live ghost shrimp

 

[darth tang]

Is he in a a corner sitting stilll....then this is fine...It is like a hunting mode...waiting for something live to cross his path. Live ghost shrimp will work.

 

[my way]

My experience with lions is that they spend a lot of their time in one spot and occasionally cruise the tankuntil feeding time. My fuzzy has 3 places he likes to hang out in, and spends most of his time in them. Mine goes crazy for freeze dried krill,I soak it in garlic extreme and selcon. (Garlic is good for enticing fish to eat and who can blame them everything tastes better with garlic.) He gulps it down like a madman. He eats just about anything I put in for him. If anyone tells you to feed them goldfish, don't unless you can't get him to eat anything else and at that I think feeder guppies might be a better choice. Goldfish have a High fat content that can cause liver problems in lionfish. you can try fresh shrimp,clams, mussels, silversides and scallops. Make sure they are'nt cooked, cut them into bite size pieces and put them on the end of a stick, just secure them enough not to fall off but not so that the lion can't get it off on the first bite. Wiggle it about an inch in front of him to attract his attention(you are trying to fool him into thinking it is alive) and hope for the best. If he does'nt eat right away don't be alarmed some take a week or two to get to eat.

 

[pasafire]

Originally Posted by Darth Tang
Is he in a a corner sitting stilll....then this is fine...It is like a hunting mode...waiting for something live to cross his path. Live ghost shrimp will work.

Yea he just goes to the top corner and sits there. Still appears to be perfectly healthy... But then he goes back down to the rocks...

 

[pasafire]

Originally Posted by My Way
My experience with lions is that they spend a lot of their time in one spot and occasionally cruise the tankuntil feeding time. My fuzzy has 3 places he likes to hang out in, and spends most of his time in them. Mine goes crazy for freeze dried krill,I soak it in garlic extreme and selcon. (Garlic is good for enticing fish to eat and who can blame them everything tastes better with garlic.) He gulps it down like a madman. He eats just about anything I put in for him. If anyone tells you to feed them goldfish, don't unless you can't get him to eat anything else and at that I think feeder guppies might be a better choice. Goldfish have a High fat content that can cause liver problems in lionfish. you can try fresh shrimp,clams, mussels, silversides and scallops. Make sure they are'nt cooked, cut them into bite size pieces and put them on the end of a stick, just secure them enough not to fall off but not so that the lion can't get it off on the first bite. Wiggle it about an inch in front of him to attrct his attention(you are trying to fool him into thinking it is alive) and hope for the best. If he does'nt eat right away don't be alarmed some take a week or two to get to eat.

I am going to write all this down thanks so much for your help! I keep running into you MYWAY ;-) I really appreciate this.... If ya need any help with plants let me know I ran a plant nursery and owned one!!!!

 

[my way]

No problem I'm happy to help anyone I can. If he's going back and forth that is a good sign. If he was stressed he probably would just hide and not come out
Have you ever heard of a plant called a "Devils Backbone" It grows a "joint" about an inch or 2 and has a zigzag pattern alternating at each joint? If I remember, it sprouts one (maybe 2) heart shaped leaves on each section in a left, right, left, right configuration.I got a cutting years back and just as it was getting roots my bird knocked it over and I didnt see what happened to it until it was too late.

 

[pasafire]

Originally Posted by My Way
No problem I'm happy to help anyone I can. If he's going back and forth that is a good sign. If he was stressed he probably would just hide and not come out
Have you ever heard of a plant called a "Devils Backbone" It grows a "joint" about an inch or 2 and has a zigzag pattern alternating at each joint? If I remember, it sprouts one (maybe 2) heart shaped leaves on each section in a left, right, left, right configuration.I got a cutting years back and just as it was getting roots my bird knocked it over and I didnt see what happened to it until it was too late.
Yes you have the right name. Its very common here in fla I don't have one, but I will keep an eye out and let you know if i get one and can ship it to you!!!

 

[my way]

Thank you

 

[debbie]

Your fuzzy dwarf is displaying the proper behavior like stated above. Mine also hangs at the top corner of the tank as well as other places too. It is like they can perch like a goby can with their fins. They are so personable and alot of fun. I am enjoying mine so much, but it is hard to not feed it everytime you walk into the room they give you that look like they are starving. I feed mine all frozen foods of krill, brine, and trying to get it to eat mysis but so far no luck. Brine if the choice of dinner though. I feed twice a day.
Deb

 

[pasafire]

Originally Posted by Debbie
Your fuzzy dwarf is displaying the proper behavior like stated above. Mine also hangs at the top corner of the tank as well as other places too. It is like they can perch like a goby can with their fins. They are so personable and alot of fun. I am enjoying mine so much, but it is hard to not feed it everytime you walk into the room they give you that look like they are starving. I feed mine all frozen foods of krill, brine, and trying to get it to eat mysis but so far no luck. Brine if the choice of dinner though. I feed twice a day.
Deb

Good glad to hear it! I still haven't got him to eat... Hopefully soon..... Do you soak your brine in selcon to nutritionally enrich it? Do you feed him any live?

 

[lionfu411]

its important to get him eating ghost shrimp before you try to feed frozen. once he knows who's feeding him he'll eat anything. also a few tricks are soaking the food in garlic and using a clear acrylic feeding stick and waving the food in the powerhead

 

[46bfinga]

good luck.ive had mine going on two months and he still wont take frozen.he went the first month without eating anything.i was trying the method of getting him hungry enough that he would eventually take it.well i gave up and bought some ghost shrimp.not giving up on him though.hes an awesome fish.

 

[debbie]

I am one lucky person, this fish was sold to me use to eating frozen foods. My LFS deals with a dealer that makes sure these fish(dwarf and reg size) are eating frozen foods well first before letting them go to the stores. He knows the difficulty people have with them in the home aquarium and therefor takes the time to make sure they are eating.
Mine at the second day I had him. The only thing he will not eat is the mysis shrimp, I phoned our LFS yesterday and they said that with mysis shrimp being a freshwater shrimp it is very unlikley but keep offering it anyways. So I do, I also feed krill and as mentioned brineshrimp.
No I do not soak my frozen foods in anything. I use the Hikari brand of frozen foods and the dealer said they do not need to be added with anything for these fish.
One big thing I have found while feeding is the water current. You may want to try turning off your powerhead(s) and slow the filter down so the food sinks to the bottom for your lionfish. I do this and now the lion is coming halfway to the top as the food is falling and catching it. It seems they like to stalk it at the bottom but if it is blowing all over the tank they are not going to go after it.
It is worth a try, I feed my regular fish their food then I get my stick ready an and drop the frozen food and guide it down the glass to the bottom and within 2 min it is all gone. Give this a try.
Deb

 

[pasafire]

Originally Posted by 46bfinga
good luck.ive had mine going on two months and he still wont take frozen.he went the first month without eating anything.i was trying the method of getting him hungry enough that he would eventually take it.well i gave up and bought some ghost shrimp.not giving up on him though.hes an awesome fish.

He's eating he's eating :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
I put in the frozen mysis today *which I read was the most nutritional for them*, I didn't change the current or anything. I put it in for my puffer because this is what he eats, and I was walking away from the tank and see him dart out and just start gobbling the mysis up like nothing!!!

So I put more in and he ate again... Its wierd now he's going around picking things off rocks and acting sooo much more active... Its day 4 and it appears we have a healthy NOW EATING lion fish... SOOOO SOOO Happy!!!!

 

[mimzy]

Originally Posted by Pasafire
He's eating he's eating :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
I put in the frozen mysis today *which I read was the most nutritional for them*, I didn't change the current or anything. I put it in for my puffer because this is what he eats, and I was walking away from the tank and see him dart out and just start gobbling the mysis up like nothing!!!

So I put more in and he ate again... Its wierd now he's going around picking things off rocks and acting sooo much more active... Its day 4 and it appears we have a healthy NOW EATING lion fish... SOOOO SOOO Happy!!!!
YAYYYYYY!!!!!! OH congratulations!!!! :jumping:

 

[my way]

Glad to hear that!