lionfish and triggerfish advice

travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
My LFS has for sale a 5" Volitans Lionfish for $99. He's in great health and I still have to see if he's eating, but I trust my LFS and he really looks good.
I need advice on 2 notes:
First, what do you think of the price?
Second and more importantly, do you think he'll get along with my other inhabitants?
They are
-8" Cano toadfish
-5" Panther Grouper
-Adult Purple and Regal tangs
-yellow tail and 3 spot damselfish
The size of the tank is roughly 200 gallons.
I would really love to have him - he's gorgeous!
Also, they have a great looking triggerfish, I think its either a humu rectangle or a bursa. 4".
I have the same questions about him, he's about $60-70.
Thanks-This is my first forum post on this site!
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
IMO i would pick one....Even though its 200gal u have some lgr fish and i wouldnt want to overstress them and shorten there lives!
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
I think if I would have to pick one I would have to go with the $100 lionfish...
do you think he'll be fine with my tangs?
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
that idk i hope cranberry or saxman come by they are the scorpionfish experts!!!! maybe change ur title to lionfish question or something
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
I really just want to make sure that the trigger and lion (I really want to get both) will get along with my tangs
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
The real question is how hasn't the toadfish ate the damsels yet??
The price of the lion is a kinda high. Not unheard of at all, and depending upon your location, could even be reasonable. The higher price isn't necessarily unwelcomed either. Keeps window shoppers out who just might happened to see the lion, "must have it" and hack together some 40gal breeder for it...
Either the lion or trigger should get along with the tangs, however the trigger presents the problem of picking on the lion, if you purchased both, as well as the toadfish.
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
oh no... he has!!!
In fact, today there is only 1 yellow tail damsel left!
before I got toad fish, I had 9 damsels. Today? 2.
Aquaknight, thanks so much for the advice. It was helpful.
It is my LFS so I bet I could barter a little for him, maybe trade in toadfish and get a credit for him or something like that.
Both the lion and trigger are in the same tank at the LFS and they both seem fine... I was just concerned for my tangs! Their beautiful!
Thanks so much again! I'll hopefully go in and get the lion one of these days...
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
I would go with the lion over the triggers. The tangs will leave him alone, and the lion will leave them alone.
The trigger poses a big threat to your lion, as mentioned above, and could possibly be nipping with your tangs depending on what types you have and how timid they are.
*Edit, I see that you have Regal tangs, a trigger would have a field day harassing them.
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
Yeah, I thought so. Thanks for your advice.
I'll get the lion fish tomorrow and tell you guys how it goes... hopefully he's not too shy so I can take a picture!
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
my day was a little crazy with my tanks....
my little damsel that I thought disappeared 3 MONTHS ago I found happily swimming in my sump.
I tried catching him with a net but it was too big so I had to use my bare hands and I caught him!
now hopefully toadfish doesn't find a meal in him but with him I don't know...!
 
S

saxman

Guest
If the toady doesn't eat the damsel, the lionfish will (I'm assuming we're talking P. volitans or P. russelii)...it's just a matter of time.
As for triggers, any non-planktonic feeder will be a risk to the lionfish or vice-versa (I had an adult volitans kill an adult picasso about 20 years ago). However, the planktonic feeding triggers are typically a good fit with lionfish. A blue jaw would be your best bet here.
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
Saxman-
I don't mind some of my damselfish disappearing. I really cant believe that the lionfish killed the Picasso trigger!
And I'm going to wait until my LFS has a blue jaw, and if he looks healthy and is appropriately priced, I will buy him.
I think the trigger in the same tank as the lion might be a blue jaw, I'll be returning to the LFS tommorow and will see.
Siptang-
I hope so too!
 
S

saxman

Guest
We have actually fed damsels to lions that have either gone off their food or haven't been weaned yet. About the only thing I can say is that if the damsels become established, they may learn to evade the lion, but it just takes "once". Now I HAVE seen lions bump their snouts when chasing a live fish into the rockwork.
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
OK, so I am definitely going in Tomorrow to get the lionfish.
But I have questions about the blue jaw.
First, would he be OK with my other tank inhabitants?
Second, does he require to be fed any specialized plankton formula or just the reg brine, mysis, silver sides?
Thanks so much saxman!
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
My LFS did not want my toadfish but gave me a referral to a great store who did take the toadfish and with pleasure! They also gave me a $10 discount towards my new Clarkii Clown!
I didn't get the lionfish because of the price and think I will be able to find a better deal elsewhere. Besides, the deal I got today on the clark's clown is unbeatable! ($30)
I'll keep you posted! If you have any advice for Clarkii Clowns, please share!
 
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