How fast will my Lion eat my shrimp

[toadums]

So, some guys from the fish store are currently ordering a fuzzy dwarf lion for me.
i have a cleaner shrimp (the red/white one). he is about 1-2 inches long.
i was just wondering how long i can expect my shrimp to live for...i plan on getting the smallest lion that i can, so that my shrimp has time to grow a little. also, hermit crabs, snails, starfish, sea hares...will he eat those?
obviously every fish is different, it might not eat them. but just speaking out of experience, should i say good by to my shrimp now?

 

[coraljunky]

The shrimp is likely to get eaten. Just depends on the "mouth to shrimp ratio". The other inverts should be safe.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by coraljunky
The shrimp is likely to get eaten. Just depends on the "mouth to shrimp ratio". The other inverts should be safe.

I agree; a lion will usually eat anything it can swallow whole, and it amazes me just how big that can be. But, I know some of the dwarfs never bother anything after being "weaned". Others are like pythons. You're missing a fish you thought was safe, see the lions huge gut; then he just sits and digests for a while. My kind of life!

 

[thoroughbred]

I doubt your lion would eat the shrimp. If you got it when It was maybe 2 inches I would say you would be fine for life. IMO a fuzzy under 5 inches wouldn't touch a 2'' shrimp. And honestly would you rather have a lame shrimp are a kick ass lionfish?...Just sayin'

 

[nicetry]

IMO/IME it's only a matter of time. Given the price of cleaner shrimp, I'd at least attempt a store credit as opposed to makng it a snack.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by nicetry
IMO/IME it's only a matter of time. Given the price of cleaner shrimp, I'd at least attempt a store credit as opposed to makng it a snack.

Of course its just a matter of time. Lions are predators (not"aggressive"); they grow quickly and feed on small inverts. There are always exceptions, there are exceptions to everything in this hobby; but this fish can easily reach 6-7" and to expect it to ignore a 1-2" shrimp is, IMO, a bit much.

 

[reefkprz]

as soon as the lion can fit the shrimp in its mouth (you'd be amazed at the size of prey even a baby lionfish can fit in its mouth), you can expect the shrimps lifespan to be untill the lion gets hungry, and sees the shrimp.