Fuzzy Dwarf Tankmates?

[slowburn22]

Bought this little guy/gal down in Atlanta last week at The Fish Store and More in Buckhead. That was a great place. The managers there actually let me pick it up on Tuesday when they are normally closed for restocking...
My question goes out to all the fuzzy dwarf owners on here. What do you guys keep with your lions??? I'm talking fish/inverts/corals... The works. The only threads I can find on here are fuzzy dwarf pics for the most part. Oh, and currently the tank houses him, a firefish, and a scooter dragonet.
I was also wondering, my wife wants to get one of those blue clams. Will he pick on it? Any help or tips will be greatly appreciated as this is my first fuzzy dwarf.

 

[myreef05]

"It" is a she. 4-6 bands on the fins tells that. 6-10 would be a male. They will eat all smaller fish and shrimp. Does not bother corals. Vary the food to include silver sides, squid, octo. shrimp etc. No freshwater fish AT ALL they are to fatty. Feed only enough to notice a buldge in the stomach area, so maybe 1-2 a week when they are small.

 

[slowburn22]

Umm, I count 6 stripes. You included 6 in both the male and female criteria. Which is it?
As for feeding, I think "she" is eating frozen mysis. Thats what the store was feeding her. I dont actually see her eat, because she hides behind the LR during the day. Funny side story to feeding though... Last night I was fragging some xenia and a good sized blue leg hermit kept getting in the way. I gave him a nudge and he fell off the back side of the rock I was working on. About 10 min. after I got done, I was making sure everything looked good before I hit the sack... Then I saw that annoying little hermit half out of his shell, still trying to flip itself upright. I watched for a second to see if he might finally do it himself and then I saw a shadow come over him. I peered around the rock to see what she would do because I've seen her "hunt" bristle worms in the same manner. After studying for a moment she swooped in and sucked that little hermit right out his shell. It was pretty funny, but you probably had to be there. Moral of the story is - I know she's eating now...

 

[slowburn22]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah bump

 

[v-lioness]

Umm, I count 6 stripes. You included 6 in both the male and female criteria. Which is it?
I would say female, but time will tell, adult males also have a larger head and longer pectoral fins.
As for feeding, I think "she" is eating frozen mysis.
Since your lion is young, I do not think mysis will be enough to sustain it over time. Pick up a feeder stick and try feeding Raw shrimp Chunks, Krill, Frozen Sand Eels, Scallops and so on........ Feed just until you see a slight bulge in the stomach area, and since your lion is young try feeding every other day right now, as your lion matures, you can feed every 2 - 3 days.
fish/inverts/corals
Lions will eat any fish that they can catch or that will fit in their mouth, overtime that will include your firefish and scooter.
With inverts, your lion will eat shrimp and crabs but will leave urchins, snails and starfish alone.
Lions are coral safe but since they perch on the rocks they may rest on your corals as well, which can irritate certain coral overtime. Keep in mind a lion perches, people do keep lions with clams, the lion will not eat the clam but if the lion perches on the clam and the clam closes, normally the lion can jet away, but I have seen strange things over the years to where a clam has been known to clamp a fish.
Kaye

 

[slowburn22]

I appreciate your help lioness. I have started to throw in some freeze dried krill and she has eaten some of it. I think I'll start using raw shrimp though - easy enough to get at any grocery store.
When you mention feeding sticks, are you talking about something like the $20 Kent Marine Nautilus Sea Squirt? Thats the only thing the LFS could point me towards when I asked for a feeding stick. When using this contraption do you just stick the food directly in front of the lion?
From what you said about the clam, I think I might stay away from them for now... I also added a coral beauty angel today and have heard bad things about them and clams also. The lion and angel seem pay no attention to one another, this isnt a poor choice of tankmates is it? (Aside from the scooter and firefish)
Thanks again for your help...

 

[v-lioness]

The feeding stick is actually called a feeding prong, they cost around 3.00 or so, I prefer Raw shrimp over Krill and add scallops, whiting, ocean perch chunks, squid or octo to the diet along with the raw shrimp, variety is best.
I just place the food on the stick and let the lion come to me, this way it will not shy away from the stick.
many people keep a coral beauty with their lion trouble free, just keep in mind a lion can eat 1/2 it's body size and sometimes will make an attempt at even large prey.
Good Luck,
Kaye

 

[slowburn22]

Hey, I appreciate it... I'll go ahead and get one, cause letting freeze dried krill float to the bottom is hit and miss and then you gotta get what she doesnt eat out. Thanks again...