Lion Fish Compatability (55 gal. tank)

[torrancejones]

I am playing around with the idea of getting a lion fish (not sure what kind). I know that they are venemous and have the potential to hurt other animals in the tank. So my question is: What other fish would go well with a lion fish (possibly a white fin lion fish)?
A book I have says that it should be the only specimen in the tank (The Encyclopedia of Aquarium Fish) and I am trying to verify whether this is true or not.
From what other people have posted (prior to posting I did a search for 'lion fish' in this forum to try and see what other people were putting with their lions) there have been mixes of:
Lions and Sharks (Im not really interested in sharks)
Lions and Eels (Im not really interested in eels)
Lions and Puffers
Lions and Triggers (I think I saw this combo)
Lions and Clown Fish
Are any of the above listed combos good? If not, what are some better combos?
Also, how do lions interact with anemones or invertibrates (my book seems to indicate that lions won't do well with either)?
-- Tor

 

[snakes'n'fish]

Depending on how big the white fin gets a 55 may be little small for one. A big lion would have problems turning around. As for mixing other fish with lions, it really depends on the size of the lions mouth. If it can fit in it the lion will sooner than later eat it, one of the bad parts of aggressive tanks. Good take mates varies, you could always look into a couple differnet kinds of wrasses. Like the red corris(one of my favorites) Lots of color and will not pick on the fins. Or even one of the smaller species of grouper like a miniatus,redish orange with blue/purple spotting another good looker. Those are just the starters.
IMO I would not mix triggers or puffers with lions. There is to big of chance of the lion getting stressed out for them picking on his fins. There are some people on the board who have had luck with mixing lions and triggers or puffers, I am not one of them. So use your best judgement before hand.
Sharks, I just think a 55 is way to small for any species of shark, no matter how young the animal is. Loinfish do alright with your less aggressive eels like snow flakes, but I would stay away from the more aggressive morrys they can be real terrors. Clown fish .... you may be running the risk of feeding the lion some VERY expensive food, unless they are big I personally would not chance it. Lionfish also do mess with inverts, and I have no experience with lions and anemones.
HTH
-Brian
BTW: Welcome to the board

 

[ozadars]

which lion fish do you mean by white fin?
I think snowflakes, some kinds of wrasse, marine betta... will be good tank mates w/ a dwarf or antennata or radiata lion (volitan or russel will outgrow)
Miniatus grouper is a good combo w/ a lion but i m sure it will outgrow a 55gal, right? even a red coris can be big for that tank

 

[fishtanker]

Originally posted by ozadars
Miniatus grouper is a good combo w/ a lion but i m sure it will outgrow a 55gal, right? even a red coris can be big for that tank
both grow way to big for the confines of a 55gal...might be OK as juvi's, but will outgrow tank fast. IMO
a couple dwarf lions (aka fuzzy';s) would do nicely in that size tank...if you got a good sized clown (maroon, tomato) there sholdn't be any problems.

 

[torrancejones]

Thanks everyone for your advice. From the sounds of it, most lions will grow too large for a 55 gal. I think I will do some more research on the Dwarf Lions.
Also, from the advice people are giving here. The main problems with lions are:
1). Other fish can nip at their fins, eventually stressing and killing the lion (fish such as triggers)
2). Lions will each fish that can fit in their mouths.
What I am still a bit unclear on is: Do I have to worry about the lion stinging other fish that it doesnt intend on eating? I know that the venom in the spikes are for the most part a defensive mechanism. Is the worry then that other fish will accidentally prick themselves, or that the lion will use its weapon for offensive means?
For example, if I had a larger clownfish (like some of you have recommended) he/she would probably be safe because of the size of the clown. Would this also apply to having a larger yellow tang with a dwarf lion (i.e. would a larger tang be safe with a dwarf lion, or would the fiesty tang run into the lion and prick himself)?
-- Tor

 

[fishtanker]

i wouldn't worry about the lion stinging any of the fish...like u said it is strictly a defense mechanism. it won't use the stinging rays on the offensive either.
a fish could possibly bump into the lion by accident and get stung. i don't think the fish that got stung would die....however it would not bump into it again.
hth

 

[ozadars]

Actually in our aquariums usually just rays and sharks get stung because they are big and a ray can decide to lay down on the lion or shark can do that too. A very big eel (like green) can decide to eat a lion but they know how to eat it and they usually dont get stung

 

[iechy]

The lion really won't harm anything unless he wants to eat it. They aren't agressive in the true sense of the word. They are very docile usually. Before my reef I used to keep a tank with lions and triggers and they all got along fine. I also find lions among the easiest fish to keep I have only had one out of maybe 10 die on me over the years. I used to sell them back to the pet shop and buy a smaller one when they got too big for my tank. I kept them when I was back in high school and not very knowledgeable or responsible and when I think back on how the water conditions must have been in that tank I can't believe they made it. Another good idea would be a harlequin tusk which I also had for awhile until the trigger killed him. It may outgrow the 55 eventually but you can always move to a bigger tank then

 

[fishguy4]

add a picasso trigger or a snowflake eel. my father in law has a v. lion and its huge mixed in w/ a grouper, picasso trigger, blackfin eel, yellow tang, hippo tang. it doesnt really pick on any of the other fish. i have a fuzzy dwarf and he is peaceful as can be. he's about an 1 1/2" big. GL!