Lionfish and cleaner wrasse

[kenchen77]

Hi! Guys,
I just got myself a lionfish today and it is about 3 inches maximum. I wanted someone to help me identify which lionfish it is? I think it is a voltian lionfish I also wanted some help on how and what I should be feeding him. I Tried feeding him some frozen prawn but he did not eat instead my clownfish took it for the anemone.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28164187@N08/3778585432/
I have by mistake brought home a cleaner wrasse as the lfs told me it was a doctor wrasse. I do know that these guys have specialised diets and should not be kept in an aquarium. But then if i were to return it to the lfs the poor guy is gonna die there. How do I care for him and ensure he eats and does not perish he is 3 inches long and has hidden himself into a hole in the live rock.

 

[cranberry]

Yes, it'a a volitan. What size tank do you have? Where you planning on keeping your current fish with the volitan?
Did he eat anything at the LFS? He may not be on frozen food at all and you may have to get him some live food. Do not get goldfish or ruby reds if that's the case.

 

[kenchen77]

Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3100400
Yes, it'a a volitan. What size tank do you have? Where you planning on keeping your current fish with the volitan?
Did he eat anything at the LFS? He may not be on frozen food at all and you may have to get him some live food. Do not get goldfish or ruby reds if that's the case.
I have a 120 gallon currently and was planning to keep him with my other fish. Is it a problem if so i was planning a 3ft x 2ft x 2ft fowlr in a month or so. I could keep him there. I did not do the feeding test at the LFS unfortunately

. However I had put in a spoon or so of decapsulated brine shrimp eggs two days back will that help? I really do like the guy and his temperament please tell me how do i ensure he has frozen food as live feed will be a problem here for me cos saltwater fish is not a popular hobby here

 

[cranberry]

Originally Posted by kenchen77
http:///forum/post/3100405
I have a 120 gallon currently and was planning to keep him with my other fish. Is it a problem if so i was planning a 3ft x 2ft x 2ft fowlr in a month or so. I could keep him there. I did not do the feeding test at the LFS unfortunately

. However I had put in a spoon or so of decapsulated brine shrimp eggs two days back will that help? I really do like the guy and his temperament please tell me how do i ensure he has frozen food as live feed will be a problem here for me cos saltwater fish is not a popular hobby here

Just make sure the fish he's with is bigger than he is. When he gets bigger he'll be snacking on that cleaner and clown. Watch for his "yawn" to get a better idea how big his mouth is... it may surprise you. If we have trouble converting him to frozen and he gets too hungry, he may also try things he wouldn't normally try.
No, brine shrimp won't do anything for this guy. By decapped you mean the ones that are ready to eat, right? Not the ones you still have to hatch? Just making sure
There are always some fish that are difficult to convert. Even of the easiest species there are ones that just won't do it. Do you have access to live shrimp, or at the very least, guppies or mollies?
I'll take a picture of my feeding stick. It has worked best for me at converting these guys. I'll even string a silverside on there..... if he's going to be stubborn, you might as well start with something that actually looks like a fish. Do you have access to silversides... small silversides that he could eat pretty much whole?
These are absolutely wonderfully tempered guy.

 

[cranberry]

Okay, feeding stick in it's entirety. What it is, is one of the feeding sticks you buy at the LFS with some fishing line taped to it.

The sticks are pretty darn pointy so I always clip with down and files them smooth. You can see it's just taped in place. In the first pic you can see I leave a long line and tape it in a couple of places along the stick. I don't want to risk loosing it in a fish's mouth!

This is the line I use. I like the 50 lb best.

 

[kenchen77]

Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3100515
Just make sure the fish he's with is bigger than he is. When he gets bigger he'll be snacking on that cleaner and clown. Watch for his "yawn" to get a better idea how big his mouth is... it may surprise you. If we have trouble converting him to frozen and he gets too hungry, he may also try things he wouldn't normally try.
No, brine shrimp won't do anything for this guy. By decapped you mean the ones that are ready to eat, right? Not the ones you still have to hatch? Just making sure
There are always some fish that are difficult to convert. Even of the easiest species there are ones that just won't do it. Do you have access to live shrimp, or at the very least, guppies or mollies?
I'll take a picture of my feeding stick. It has worked best for me at converting these guys. I'll even string a silverside on there..... if he's going to be stubborn, you might as well start with something that actually looks like a fish. Do you have access to silversides... small silversides that he could eat pretty much whole?
These are absolutely wonderfully tempered guy.
Decapped brine shrimp eggs are the ones without shells. Yes i do have access to mollies and guppies infact today i fed him two of those. Would that be enough nutrition for the little guy? I really do want to wean himm off live food cos i dont wanna keep feeding him live fish. Shall I wean him off in the tank itself or shall i put him in a smaller QT tank and try and wean him off?
BY silverside do you mean beef or are you refering to the silverside fish that grows upto 5 inches. And thanks for the pictures of the feeding stick I am gonna make myself one here
Generally how many attempts does it take to wean the guy off. And how long does each attempt take

 

[ophiura]

Silversides are saltwater feeders, sold usually in frozen flat packs. You would not feed a whole one...it would be too much in most cases.
As for how long...that is going to be different each time. Some will adapt pretty quickly, others I am sure will take weeks or months. Mostly it takes a lot of patience indeed.
As far as whether to stay in the same tank or not, that could depend on a variety of factors and both could be options. If you have such active or aggressive fish that they will go after the feeding stick or cause stress on the lion just from swimming in his face, then a smaller tank may be suitable. But this would be, IMO, literally setting up a smaller system that is "normal" (eg not as basic as a QT...eg which have PVC and such) and having him in there.
However if in your main tank you really don't have competitors for the food, and it is not an unusually small fish, I wouldn't see why you couldn't keep him in there.

 

[jordan3548]

my lfs has a 9 inch + lion with a 1.5 inch cleaner wrasse and they get along just fine Ive seen the wrasse go right up to it and clean him I think he knows it helps him and its not food lol or a threat but every fish is different so you never knowI am just stating my personal experience

 

[cranberry]

Fish do not exhibit normal behaviour while on display at the LFS.

 

[cranberry]

Originally Posted by kenchen77
http:///forum/post/3101173
Decapped brine shrimp eggs are the ones without shells.
No, there is another form of decapped that actually has to be hatched still. The hard outer shell is gone but there is another softer shell. Very popular in the seahorse world as well as aquaculture.... just wanted to make sure.
Originally Posted by kenchen77
http:///forum/post/3101173
Yes i do have access to mollies and guppies infact today i fed him two of those.
No, it won't keep him long term, but it's a good food while we train.
Originally Posted by kenchen77
http:///forum/post/3101173
Shall I wean him off in the tank itself or shall i put him in a smaller QT tank and try and wean him off?
I've always put my small ones in a smaller tank. It was easier for me. It'll depend on what you can handle.
Originally Posted by kenchen77
http:///forum/post/3101173
BY silverside do you mean beef or are you refering to the silverside fish that grows upto 5 inches.
You can also buy them small. I think I have a picture of one "modified"....lol.
Originally Posted by kenchen77
http:///forum/post/3101173
how many attempts does it take to wean the guy off. And how long does each attempt take
They are all completely different. But I find the fuzzies to be one of the easiest.

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by jordan3548
http:///forum/post/3101538
my lfs has a 9 inch + lion with a 1.5 inch cleaner wrasse and they get along just fine Ive seen the wrasse go right up to it and clean him I think he knows it helps him and its not food lol or a threat but every fish is different so you never knowI am just stating my personal experience

This can be hit or miss. When I worked at an aquarium, we had mixed success. We had a wonderful display of huge groupers, and tiny neon gobies for cleaners. But in other, more aggressive tanks, we would add cleaner wrasse and they would be eaten nearly instantly. The problem is that many larger species, and I include some lions in this, will instinctively eat first

I am certain that the lionfish I cared for would try and eat my finger...just as fast as they would swim across the tank for a spec of brine or something. So it can be mixed success keeping them or introducing them. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.