beginnermatt
Member
What would do lionfish usually eat, also can they be kept with more than one lion. Last question is how do the mix with inverts. Thanks.
Questions about LIONFISH
- Thread starter beginnermatt
- Start date
nevurrmore
Member
A lionfish will eat any kind of small fish such as silversides, rosy reds, goldfish and things. They can also be taught to eat uncooked shrimp, and a live one would be a treat. They're main diet in the wild is shrimp. Two lionfish can be kept together if you have plenty of room to house them. You need to have space on the bottom for them to rest also.
tyrfing
Member
I have two Lionfish, one an antennatae and the other a Russells. The Russells is pretty small (head to tail about three inches) and the antennatae is around 6 inches.
Neither one would eat (though I am mysteriously missing two cleaner shrimp and three chromis) for about two weeks and the antennatae still will not take any offerings.
The Russells eats anything, even Shrimp and scallop pieces. If you have trouble feeding, get some frozen krill or shrimp from YLFS and drop it into a jet stream or water return. If you have thawed out the shrimp, when it hits the jet, it will move quite quickly and life like. If the Lion is close by, the rapid movement will stimulate him.
Someone explained to me that since they are predators, they size up prey by it's eyes, they attack and move when they feel they aren't being watched. I don't know if that's true, but the Russells didn't eat anything until I offered shrimp (with tiny black eyes), and now he'll eat anything.
Don't overfeed, these bad boys will stuff themselves. They also seem to be among the more intelligent fish with a great personality. The Russells will come to the edge of the tank when you enter the room and follow you as you walk by.
Hope this helps. Stay patient, these guys don't need to eat everyday; 2-4 times a week should be more than fine.
Neither one would eat (though I am mysteriously missing two cleaner shrimp and three chromis) for about two weeks and the antennatae still will not take any offerings.
The Russells eats anything, even Shrimp and scallop pieces. If you have trouble feeding, get some frozen krill or shrimp from YLFS and drop it into a jet stream or water return. If you have thawed out the shrimp, when it hits the jet, it will move quite quickly and life like. If the Lion is close by, the rapid movement will stimulate him.
Someone explained to me that since they are predators, they size up prey by it's eyes, they attack and move when they feel they aren't being watched. I don't know if that's true, but the Russells didn't eat anything until I offered shrimp (with tiny black eyes), and now he'll eat anything.
Don't overfeed, these bad boys will stuff themselves. They also seem to be among the more intelligent fish with a great personality. The Russells will come to the edge of the tank when you enter the room and follow you as you walk by.
Hope this helps. Stay patient, these guys don't need to eat everyday; 2-4 times a week should be more than fine.
skirk
Member
Try to steer clear of the rosy red/goldfish feedings if possible. This may be used initially as a last resort to get feeding initiated for a stubborn lion who will not eat. But you can let a lion go for about a week on trying to feed frozen food before you should give live food to satisfy him. A varied diet of silversides,krill,along with shrimp or clam or something else that comes in bulky enough form should be used. However the occasional live feeder fish may be used just for show or for the nature of the hunt. I personally wouldn't do this any more often then 1 out of maybe every 6 or 7 feedings.
Frozen gives you a guaranteed nutritional value. Then a variety makes it even better due to foods offering different things. Kinda like no human wants to eat the same meal for the rest of there life.
Also, if you do feed live then try ghost shrimp. Since they eat shrimp in wildlife this is more realistic to them then goldfish or others. But remember none of them are there natural diet since they obviously never see freshwater fish (no brainer). HTH
Frozen gives you a guaranteed nutritional value. Then a variety makes it even better due to foods offering different things. Kinda like no human wants to eat the same meal for the rest of there life.
Also, if you do feed live then try ghost shrimp. Since they eat shrimp in wildlife this is more realistic to them then goldfish or others. But remember none of them are there natural diet since they obviously never see freshwater fish (no brainer). HTH
von_rahvin
Member
i use live saltwater shimp to feed mine. i just drop one in and the shrimp runs arund until the lion get hungery. them Bam no more shrimp! I local bait shop sells them for a dllar a dozen. I just have a little feeder tank set up.
tombraider118
Member
the most is easy to let to letthe lion eat out of your hand!
luckyboy7
New Member
Not on the subject (kinda tho I guess), but anyways... I have a blind porcupine puffer, which I hand feed, he was real cheap, $25 and the guys at my LFS said he was easy to take care of, so I got him, and have to hand him otherwise the dummy with starve, hes too long looking around for the food on the bottom and I just recently got a huge hermit crab that grabs it when it hits the bottm and runs with it, so I got no choice and it seems pretty safe, he just sucks it right in.... Been doing it for awhile too.... So, good luck with the lion searching and all that... 
whipple
Member
On the hand feeding deal there i had an African Lung fish (found him a bigger home)he's about 40 inches and he was hand feed for 5 and a half years but he got me and damn if that wasn't BAD their teeth are inverted and when you pull it just rips. It took twice before i decided thats NOT a good idea even after hand feeding so long he was still wild.
full of questions
Member
Can someone please help me I have A Lion that has
not EATEN A THING for 11 DAYS. Any help would be great.
not EATEN A THING for 11 DAYS. Any help would be great.
