thinking about getting some lionfish
- Thread starter nicknacs
- Start date
rickross23
Active Member
Put predators, aggressive fish- NO TRIGGERFISH- NEVER!
S
smallreef
Guest
triggers pick at the fins of the lions and eventually kill them...
you could have many other fish as long as they are not overly aggressive and wouldnt fit in the lions mouth, and NO the other fish will not get stung (unless they are completely stupid) and the only thing you have to do is be cautious while working in the tank with him,,, many many people have lions and have never been stung its all in the way you treat having one...
you could have many other fish as long as they are not overly aggressive and wouldnt fit in the lions mouth, and NO the other fish will not get stung (unless they are completely stupid) and the only thing you have to do is be cautious while working in the tank with him,,, many many people have lions and have never been stung its all in the way you treat having one...
rickross23
Active Member
How bigs your tank? Tell us and we can get somewhere on fish.
rickross23
Active Member
I say 120...Lionfish aren't meant for reefs...they eat ANYTHING that fits in their mouths.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rickross23 http:///t/391254/thinking-about-getting-some-lionfish#post_3468795
I say 120...Lionfish aren't meant for reefs...they eat ANYTHING that fits in their mouths.
I think they are "reef safe" but not community fish safe, they eat any smaller fish they can fit into their mouth...they also eat the CUC of snails, shrimp and crabs...but I don't think they eat corals. They like live food and need to be taught to eat frozen.
Originally Posted by rickross23 http:///t/391254/thinking-about-getting-some-lionfish#post_3468795
I say 120...Lionfish aren't meant for reefs...they eat ANYTHING that fits in their mouths.
I think they are "reef safe" but not community fish safe, they eat any smaller fish they can fit into their mouth...they also eat the CUC of snails, shrimp and crabs...but I don't think they eat corals. They like live food and need to be taught to eat frozen.
rickross23
Active Member
So they really aren't meant for reefs then....unless its a frag tank, why would you want a reef with NO fish?
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rickross23 http:///t/391254/thinking-about-getting-some-lionfish#post_3468821
So they really aren't meant for reefs then....unless its a frag tank, why would you want a reef with NO fish?
There are lots of large reef safe fish the lionfish can live with. There are also fuzzy dwarf lions that stay small. I could understand a reef with no fish...when I had my reef going I had just a few fish for some movement...I liked the coral more than the fish.
Originally Posted by rickross23 http:///t/391254/thinking-about-getting-some-lionfish#post_3468821
So they really aren't meant for reefs then....unless its a frag tank, why would you want a reef with NO fish?
There are lots of large reef safe fish the lionfish can live with. There are also fuzzy dwarf lions that stay small. I could understand a reef with no fish...when I had my reef going I had just a few fish for some movement...I liked the coral more than the fish.
rickross23
Active Member
I say zebra dwarf or fu manchu
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by nicknacs http:///t/391254/thinking-about-getting-some-lionfish#post_3468896
those are his 2 choices actually, anything stopping me from one of each? And are those the kind you can put a moray eel with ? I remember reading that there was one kind not to put an ell with but can't remember which one or why. Or the place I read it for that matter...
Maybe it's just me, I concider the moray eel about as compatible in our tanks as the tigar sharks.
Originally Posted by nicknacs http:///t/391254/thinking-about-getting-some-lionfish#post_3468896
those are his 2 choices actually, anything stopping me from one of each? And are those the kind you can put a moray eel with ? I remember reading that there was one kind not to put an ell with but can't remember which one or why. Or the place I read it for that matter...
Maybe it's just me, I concider the moray eel about as compatible in our tanks as the tigar sharks.
S
smallreef
Guest
you could put a smaller snowflake or something.. morays get to be over 6ft long and would not be happy in that tank...
nicknacs
Member
Getting a bigger tank would always be an option. But I did talk to the children's aquarium here and if I got an moray eel that out grew the tank they would be more than happy to take it. I can't remember the exact species but it was listed as a miniature yellow moray at the store. I was told it would only be 3 feet at adult size.
rickross23
Active Member
Snowflakes max out around 2' so you would be fine with most eels in a 120 if you had lots of LR and hiding spots and a VERY tight fitting lid.ask smallreef, my initial plan for my 75g was an lion and a Snowflake eel, which would have been fine, but I ha e decided on a reef, so I took a different route.
S
saxman
Guest
Did someone say LIONFISH? Someone once said Cranberry and I know a little about them, so here are some answers/clarifications to questions that have come up in this thread:
Lionfish are COMPLETELY reef safe, in that they pay no heed to your corals whatsoever. They will, however eat ornamental crustaceans (with the exception of hermits), and any fish that they feel will fit into their mouths. Based on this, I'd have to say "reef safe with certain limitations on tankmates".
Reef-type triggers and large angels will either kill or harass lionfish to death unless they happen to get nailed in the process. If you want to keep a lion/trigger combo, you'll want to go with a pelagic (planktivorus) species (genera Xanthichtys, Melicthys, or Odonus). The 120 pretty much limits your choices a bit more...I'd recommend a blue throat trigger (males are the prettiest).
SFE's tend to get pretty aggressive once they get some size on them (20" or so), and altho I kept one for about 15 years, I'd likely not do so again. A zebra would be a better choice, altho they get larger. If you want a smaller eel that can be housed with smaller lions, I'd look into the Golden Dwarf Moray (Gymnothorax melatremus), which max out around a foot or so.
Lionfish actually have the weakest venom of the Scorpaeniformes, and it will hurt if you get popped, but won't kill you unless you're allergic and don't get treated. Also, those long dorsal spines can break off in the wound, so you'll need to watch for that, as if not removed, you can end up with a nasty secondary infection. Hot water immersion (110*F - 114*F, NO HOTTER, as you'll scald yourself) will denature the heat labile proteins in the fish's venom and reduce the pain.
The species of lionfish is dependent upon your tank size, and expertise in some cases, as some fish are easier to keep than others. There really is a lionfish for just about everyone, however. We tend to group them by body size for the most part: small-bodied (Dendrochirus sp.), medium bodied (Pterois mombasse, P. antennata, P.radiata, and P. sphex) and large-bodied (P. volitans, P. russelii, P. miles, P. lunulata, etc). The four top picks for a first lionfish (in order of size) IMHO would be: D. brachypterus (fuzzy dwarf), P. mombassae (Mombasa lionfish), P. russelii (Russel's lionfish), and P. volitans (Common Lionfish).
I'd give our Lionfish Care Guide a read...it will no doubt answer most of your questions, and it also contains some good pix of the various species: http://www.lionfishlair.com/careguides/lionfish.shtml
Within that article, there's also a link to our weaning article: http://www.lionfishlair.com/feedingtechniques/toolsofthetrade.shtml
Take a gander at those and come back with any questions they may bring up.
HTH
Lionfish are COMPLETELY reef safe, in that they pay no heed to your corals whatsoever. They will, however eat ornamental crustaceans (with the exception of hermits), and any fish that they feel will fit into their mouths. Based on this, I'd have to say "reef safe with certain limitations on tankmates".
Reef-type triggers and large angels will either kill or harass lionfish to death unless they happen to get nailed in the process. If you want to keep a lion/trigger combo, you'll want to go with a pelagic (planktivorus) species (genera Xanthichtys, Melicthys, or Odonus). The 120 pretty much limits your choices a bit more...I'd recommend a blue throat trigger (males are the prettiest).
SFE's tend to get pretty aggressive once they get some size on them (20" or so), and altho I kept one for about 15 years, I'd likely not do so again. A zebra would be a better choice, altho they get larger. If you want a smaller eel that can be housed with smaller lions, I'd look into the Golden Dwarf Moray (Gymnothorax melatremus), which max out around a foot or so.
Lionfish actually have the weakest venom of the Scorpaeniformes, and it will hurt if you get popped, but won't kill you unless you're allergic and don't get treated. Also, those long dorsal spines can break off in the wound, so you'll need to watch for that, as if not removed, you can end up with a nasty secondary infection. Hot water immersion (110*F - 114*F, NO HOTTER, as you'll scald yourself) will denature the heat labile proteins in the fish's venom and reduce the pain.
The species of lionfish is dependent upon your tank size, and expertise in some cases, as some fish are easier to keep than others. There really is a lionfish for just about everyone, however. We tend to group them by body size for the most part: small-bodied (Dendrochirus sp.), medium bodied (Pterois mombasse, P. antennata, P.radiata, and P. sphex) and large-bodied (P. volitans, P. russelii, P. miles, P. lunulata, etc). The four top picks for a first lionfish (in order of size) IMHO would be: D. brachypterus (fuzzy dwarf), P. mombassae (Mombasa lionfish), P. russelii (Russel's lionfish), and P. volitans (Common Lionfish).
I'd give our Lionfish Care Guide a read...it will no doubt answer most of your questions, and it also contains some good pix of the various species: http://www.lionfishlair.com/careguides/lionfish.shtml
Within that article, there's also a link to our weaning article: http://www.lionfishlair.com/feedingtechniques/toolsofthetrade.shtml
Take a gander at those and come back with any questions they may bring up.
HTH
rickross23
Active Member
Well said...that's Exactly what I wanted say haha.