Lionfish

[cgibson505]

Hello everyone, Well after a hiatus from the hobby for a couple of years I am setting up my 150g tall tank again. I have decided not to do a reef, but decided to get a lionfish (red or black). i have never kept one before so i have been doing some reading about their care over the last few weeks. i have a 100g fuge that will be my filter and live rock out of my old 210g gallon that i saved so I will have plenty of that. My question is on tankmates; i was looking for something with color and find some conflicting info on some of these guys.Racoon butterfly, I have heard yes,no and "with caution"; its only a 4ft tank so he may need more horizontal swimming space I have never had one of these either. Lemonpeel angel same thing with this one I would think a full grown lion would eat this one but not sure.I know most people get eels with their lion but i was curious if a pair of engineer gobies could subtitute for an eel.The fish that seem to always get the nod are tangs and foxface, I have done tangs forever and was looking to try something new and I never have really cared for the foxface.Let me know and thanks.

 

[cgibson505]

I also forgot I was thinking about putting a tube anemone in there too, low light anemone but looks really good under the pc lights.

 

[cranberry]

We have a tube with our volitans. Yes, a full grown volitans can eat a lemonpeel. I've never seen a full grown Engineer goby before..... do they swim out in the open or hide like an eel? If they are out in the open, they may be slurpable. The foxface is an awesome fish. We had one for many years.... large, pretty colour, personable and hardy.
 
I've never kept a tang ......

 

[cgibson505]

A full grown engineer goby is about a foot long I think,but not as thick as and eel; more like a sharpie i would say.They live under the rock work and make there home there only coming out to feed.When you feed them they stick there head out and go right back in.

 

[cgibson505]

Nobody has any input on the racoon butterfly?

 

[saxman]

I've kept P. volitans in a softy reef with a CBB, but have never kept a 'coon BF. I don't see any problems as long as you bear in mind the "size differential" rule.