Nemo & Lionfish Questions

[krisiks]

Hi,
Yesterday I boought 2 Nemos and one is slightly bigger than the other one and the big one chase and beat the small one sometimes, is this normal??
I have also seen a small lionfish about 3 inches and looks wonderful. I wanted to buy it but don't know whether I can put it in the same tank as my clowns. If not, I have a refugium of 20 gallons, can I put it in?? Also, does lionfish eats copepods??
Thanks.
Awaiting for your advise.
Kr|S

 

[milomlo]

As far as the clowns goes the larger one will be the female and they are just establishing who is the dominate one. Yes it is normal. I have 2 clowns and when I bought them they were the same size. One has gotten larger and is definately more dominate and they still chase. They don't fight though.
I know NOTHING about the lionfish - someone will be along shortly who does though.

 

[pfitz44]

what kind of lion is it??? And what size tank do u have???

 

[ruaround]

Tell us a little about your tank...size, filtration, substrate, etc. etc.
By "Nemos" are you refering to percula or ocelaris clowns?
The Lion is a hunter/carnivore...it would be okay in the tank for a very limited time (depending on size of tank, size of clowns, and the size of the Lion esp. its mouth), for when he gets big enough your "Nemos" will become lunch...

 

[krisiks]

Hi, thanks for your reply.
My tank is 70 gallons with a sump/refugium of 30 gallons. I have a protein skimmer, one hand on filter for carbon and 2 powerhead running. I have LR & LS (not CC). My tank is one month old, and I am waiting for 2 more months for my tank to cycle well so that I can put an anemone for my clowns :joy:
I don't really know what clown they are but I think they called Sebae Clown, they are yellow, black and white strips. For the lionfish, I don't know the name. My nemos are approximately 1 inch in size and the lion is about 3 inch.
Can I put the lionfish in the refugium? My LFS told me that I can keep lionfish in a 5 gallons tank, is that true?
Waiting for your advise.
Thanks.

 

[yeffre kix]

I bought a small black volitan and it loved my clownfish. I would guess that they were about 1/2 his size and he managed to eat them both within a week.
No way would I put a lion in the fuge, it simply isn't enough room. He may survive (suffer) for a while but I wouldn't expect him to be too happy.

 

[ruaround]

Originally Posted by Krisiks
Can I put the lionfish in the refugium? My LFS told me that I can keep lionfish in a 5 gallons tank, is that true?
Waiting for your advise.
Thanks.
NO WAY!!! (i hope the 5 gallons was a typo) A lion should not be kept in anything less than 55 IMO, they get pretty big some over 1'...If it is a seabea clown it would be okay for a while (they get bigger and are more aggressive than percs), but as stated before a lion will eat anything it can fit into its mouth and often times will try to eat things it cant fit into its mouth...I had a clarkii in with a volitan lion for about 4 years and they were happy together...DYK that lions are venomous?

 

[pfitz44]

We really need to know what type of lionfish it is.... maybe a picture??? if it is a V. Lion, your tank is too small to hold one. A proteen skimmer is a must with the lion. And if it is a V. Lion, you can kiss those clowns goodbye in a year or so
~Fitzy

 

[krisiks]

Thanks for your reply and advise.
I think I won't buy the lionfish, if I still want a lionfish at home I will setup another tank.
For the moment, I love my nemos and don't want to lose them, they are just wonderful fish and the way they swim is amazing :joy:
The money I kept for the lionfish will now be used to buy an anemone for my clowns

But I read some articles that says, my tank need to be at least 3 month old and some says 6 month old... I think I have to wait for the 6 month but can I still put an anemone in a 3 month old tank????
I already bought my 150W MH :joy:
Awaiting for your advise.
Thanks.

 

[pfitz44]

That is a personal preferance. If you feel your water quality is stable enough after 3 mts, go ahead and put one in. If your not too sure... then wait until ur parameters all get in check!!
Sorry to hear about the lion

Did you think about a dwarf maybe??? I got one in my tank, and hes great!!!

~Fitzy

 

[debbie]

Kris, glad to see you here.....

So you have the clowns going hey, that is great. I just bought myself a Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish, gosh they sure are something else. A nice little package of the real big thing. Here is some pics of my new guy.
Debbie

 

[debbie]

By the way, the first shot was taken in total darkness last night. Love this feature...

and the other one was in the daytime.
Deb

 

[mlawrencem]

Originally Posted by Krisiks
Hi, thanks for your reply.
My tank is 70 gallons with a sump/refugium of 30 gallons. I have a protein skimmer, one hand on filter for carbon and 2 powerhead running. I have LR & LS (not CC). My tank is one month old, and I am waiting for 2 more months for my tank to cycle well so that I can put an anemone for my clowns :joy:
I don't really know what clown they are but I think they called Sebae Clown, they are yellow, black and white strips. For the lionfish, I don't know the name. My nemos are approximately 1 inch in size and the lion is about 3 inch.
Can I put the lionfish in the refugium? My LFS told me that I can keep lionfish in a 5 gallons tank, is that true?
Waiting for your advise.
Thanks.
I know you don't want to here this, but you don't need to put and anemone in a tank that is only 3 months old you need to wait 8 to 12 months to make sure your tank is stable. Spend that extra time and put in live rock I know you said you had LR and I don't know how much you have but I've read you need anywhere from one to two lbs of LR per gallon of water. I go with one myself. Don't worry about your clownfish not having an anemone they will be just fine. However you do need to think about the anemone they are not easy to keep. It sounds like you may be on the right path as you said you had bought 150 watt MH lighting not sure how deep your tank is. If it's 17 inches or less you should be ok with the 150 watts. I know it will be enough lighting for a BTA or a RBTA or a LTA as they don't seem to need the strong lighting like say a carpet anemone would need. Do a google search for Bubble Tip Anemone, Rose Bubble Tip Anemone or Long Tenacle Anemone and do some reading to learn as much as you can about Anemones before you by one. I don't want to sound like a know it all but if you buy an anemone after you tank only being setup 3 months you'll most likely be back where your at now without an anemone and out $50.00 or $70.00 dollars. Oh and don't be suprised if your clownfish don't acclimate to your anemone. The Haddoni Carpet, a.k.a. Saddle Anemone is your best bet if keeping a carpet anemone.

 

[krisiks]

Hi, thanks for your advise, I will think well before putting an anemone. But if I have to wait, I will because I really want to make my tank a reef one and create this beautiful ocean in my house :hilarious But for clowns to be really happy, I think they need an anemone to play with, do you agree? :joy:
I don't know whether it is a dwarf lion, I wanted to take pics of it but everytime I forget my camera at home Don't worry, I soon as I get the pic I will post it here.
Hi deb, how r u?
Nice pics, your lionfish is wonderful. Is it in the same tank as your clowns or different one?

 

[debbie]

Same tank as the clowns are, they all get along just fine. The clowns are a nice size now. I have had them for a year now.
Deb

 

[krisiks]

Hi,
If a build up a refugium of 55gallons with live rocks, 4" sand and plants, and put pods and a lionfish in, will the lionfish hunt and eat the pods??
Thanks.

 

[ruaround]

The Lion wouldn't hunt the pods...they are too small...A lion wants somethin BIG to eat like shrimp or small feeder fish.

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by ruaround
The Lion wouldn't hunt the pods...they are too small...A lion wants somethin BIG to eat like shrimp or small feeder fish.
Avoid the feeder fish.
you can feed lions frozen krill, silversides, etc.
lions won't eat pods.
Clowns can be perfectly happy without an anemone. In fact, if they are captive bred clowns they may never bond with any anemone.

 

[pontius]

Originally Posted by Krisiks
they need an anemone to play with, do you agree? :joy:
clownfish don't use anenomes for happiness, they use them for survival in the wild. if the clown is tank raised, there is a good possibility that it would have no clue what an anenome is or should be used for. without the threat of death, there is no practical reason to have a clown and anenome together.
most lions will eat ocellaris clowns, so don't kid yourself into thinking otherwise.

 

[pfitz44]

Originally Posted by Pontius
most lions will eat ocellaris clowns, so don't kid yourself into thinking otherwise.
Full size lions.... yes.... dwarfs.... id have to disagree with you on....