Lionfish Help

[shayne_0605]

Ok I just recently purchased a 3 inch small volitan lion from my LFS. Ive owned and maitanenced reef tanks before but alwys wanted an agressive tank with a lion. The fish looks healthy but he doesnt rly swim around much. I'm wondering if this is normal for him to just want to lay around on the bottom in different places all day.

 

[cranberry]

Little guys should be much more active than the big boys. They should hang in the day and be more active as day progresses. What size of a tank? What kind of flow? Who else is in there?
Do you have a picture of the tank? If they are uncomfortable in an environment due to "whatever" reason, they tend to not move around so much.

 

[shayne_0605]

The tank is 120G with good flow. Had to turn down my pump it used to be setup as reeftank. Salinity is .23 Temp is 72-75. Nitrates Ammonia and Nitrites are at 0. Right now he is the only fish in there but the next to come will be a small snowflake eel. There is severaal pices of live rock in the tank also so there is some caves. I think he should feel secure? Ive only had about a week but doesnt swim around very much at all.

 

[cranberry]

Is he alert? Like, quick to react to food and what not? What is he eating?

 

[shayne_0605]

Hes pretty alert I used some tongs to try and feed him a piece of bait shrimp and he started darting around and then just layed back down. They fed him mysis at the LFS and I got him to eat one little piece of thawed brine but he hasnt taken to anything rly.

 

[cranberry]

Ya got some live food for him? Ghosties?
You can use guppies for a very short time to try and convert him fully, but I fint ghost shrimps to be an easier route to take.
See if this help at all. Converting Tips. He needs to be on meatier foods.
Are his fins being blown around at all?

 

[shayne_0605]

Im going back by the fish store today to pick up some ghost shrimp and a couple feeder guppies to see if he'll take to them.
His fins only get blown around when he swims right in front of the powerhead on oneside of the tank.

 

[ladyreefseeker]

I think as long as its perky laziness it's probably alright. It seems once you get past the initial transition they are like housepets lol! I live in south Florida and we just had an article in the paper about breeding lionfish off our beaches and in the shallows. Can't believe people would release them....

 

[shayne_0605]

Ok thank you very much for that info. Hes still pretty alert I was just curious as to why he doesnt swim around alot.

 

[jstdv8]

if he doesnt eat ghost shrimp your lion might be certifiably insane. I havnt seen one yet that can resist.

 

[shayne_0605]

Im trying ghosts as soon as i get off wrk thanks for the help. Any suggestions on tankmates?
I was thinking about a snowflake eel, panther grouper, and a powdered brown tang.

 

[shayne_0605]

Okay I got the ghost shrimp and he ate 7 of them! Im so happy but what do I do about his laziness?
( I guess I just have to except it?)
How long does it normaly take to convert them to frozen?
Any suggestions on tankmates??

 

[cranberry]

I'm sure when he gets use to the tank he'll swim around more... until he's older... then he'll slow down again. They also tend to "hang" during the day.
I don't believe a tang or grouper belong in a 125g.

 

[ladyreefseeker]

Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3285679
I'm sure when he gets use to the tank he'll swim around more... until he's older... then he'll slow down again. They also tend to "hang" during the day.
I don't believe a tang or grouper belong in a 125g.
Agree!