stonefish

lionfish28

lionfish28

Member
Ok i just saw a pic of a stonefish on this site and looks like it would be a PERFECT fish for my agreesive tank.However i have these fish in my 55........
*volitan lion(3-4in)
*chainlink eel
*striped puffer
* a stupid damsel(which will be luch soon)
Do the stonefish need a rocky enviroment?Any info about this fish will help.
 
gasguzzler

gasguzzler

Active Member
Probably a good idea if you dont plan on upgrading. Arent they kind of ugly with an all grey body with black patterns or am I thinking of something else?
 
pufferman

pufferman

Member
i thought you decided not to add any more fish until you get 160 in january. you should not get stonefish for two reasons. first, they are monsters......they have an insatiable appetite........extremely capacious mouth.......it gets big, too...around 15".....it'll ingest all of your fishes.....:scared:second, they've got very venomous spines.....a lot more dangerous than those of lionfish...foxface...etc......might be life-threatening.....they have to be housed in a species tank...not aggressive community tank.......stay away from it........at all costs....
 
gasguzzler

gasguzzler

Active Member
Yeah, thats pretty new. I was looking at it last night. That Banana Eel looks better and better every time! How about that Chevron Butterfly- if I wasnt leaving for Jersey on Thurs. that thing would be mine.
 
pufferman

pufferman

Member
banana eel is good.....they only get 8"at max..........but the site says its size is 10 - 12".......i'm not sure if it is really gymnothorax melatremus. it is also quite depressing to see SWF having chevron butterfly on sale, which is another obligate corallivore. i hope people won't buy this fish unless they want it to slowly starve to death.......just a thought!!
 
gasguzzler

gasguzzler

Active Member
I dont think I would really buy it, the colors and the patterns are out of this world though. Every species account Ive read and heard over the last 3 years all say the same thing...eventually it dies. Im a firm believer in not harvesting fish witha low survivability. Dont be too depressed however, perhaps this is only a one time thing. My LFS has never ordered a single Mandarin but there is always at least 3-5 there the supplier sends as order fillers. Perhaps this is a similar situation.
 
conogre

conogre

Member
Stonefish grow to about 13" and do it VERY quickly......mine went from 3" to 13" in less than a year and weighs close to 3 POUNDS.
They can be housed in a large tank (mine's in a 300) with any other fish that's too large to eat, just like any other Lionfish or Scorpionfish....they have the added advantage of moving very little and spending most of their time completely buried in the substrate.
Color-wise, they are extremely variable, changing to match their surroundings, which can go from blah to brilliant oranges and yellows if they are housed with faux sponges, etc.
The Stonefish IS the most venomous fish in the world, but keep in mind the spines are defensive weapons only, primarily evolved as a defense against being eaten by sharks.
The stronger venom of the stonefish, compared to many other scorpionfish, is likely due to the Carpet shark that lives in the same area.....one jab in the roof of the mouth as it''s swallowed will get it promptly spat back out and most sharks won't make that same mistake twice!

If you look closely the "rock" in the sand behind the 10" 6-line grouper is a 13" Stonefish...the curved part is its mouth.
Mike
 
conogre

conogre

Member
LOL!
I understand that, but as an ex-police officer, I'm a lot more leary of some teens than a stonefish.....now some of THOSE can be dangerous!!!**grin**.
Mike
 
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