thinking about getting some lionfish
- Thread starter nicknacs
- Start date
rickross23
Active Member
Sowwyyyy.
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saxman
Guest
I really hate being "that person", but large species angelfish and lions generally make pretty poor tankmates, as the angels typically try to "despine" the lionfish or are killed in the process of trying. You'll need to keep an eye on them.
It seems like you may want to slow down on your stocking until your tank catches up with the bioload as well. Additionally, you really ought to QT your new fish. Trust me, it WILL bite you in the behind someday (I used to pooh-pooh QT also until I had a yellow tang wipe out most of the fish in the reef I kept at the time).
It seems like you may want to slow down on your stocking until your tank catches up with the bioload as well. Additionally, you really ought to QT your new fish. Trust me, it WILL bite you in the behind someday (I used to pooh-pooh QT also until I had a yellow tang wipe out most of the fish in the reef I kept at the time).
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saxman
Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///t/391254/thinking-about-getting-some-lionfish/20#post_3469722
Did you see it eat at the store? What was the store feedibg it? That is what you need to have
Unless the LFS was feeding the fish feeder goldfish/rosy reds,
The reason I say this is because MOST LFS just toss feeder goldfish/rosy reds to their preds, which isn't good for the them at all, but it's easy, so that's how most LFS roll. Carp should be the "last resort" to feed a new fish as their flesh contains the wrong HUFA's for SW fish, and carp especially, as they contain a high concentration of Thiaminase, which inhibits the predator's uptake of Thiamine. This results in many types of CNS disorders including clamped fins, cessation of feeding (anorexia), convulsions, death.
The other bad food to watch out for is krill...freeze-dried or frozen (they've been linked to lockjaw in lions), and many fish refuse to east anything else once they become used to eating freeze-dried krill.
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///t/391254/thinking-about-getting-some-lionfish/20#post_3469722
Did you see it eat at the store? What was the store feedibg it? That is what you need to have
Unless the LFS was feeding the fish feeder goldfish/rosy reds,
The reason I say this is because MOST LFS just toss feeder goldfish/rosy reds to their preds, which isn't good for the them at all, but it's easy, so that's how most LFS roll. Carp should be the "last resort" to feed a new fish as their flesh contains the wrong HUFA's for SW fish, and carp especially, as they contain a high concentration of Thiaminase, which inhibits the predator's uptake of Thiamine. This results in many types of CNS disorders including clamped fins, cessation of feeding (anorexia), convulsions, death.
The other bad food to watch out for is krill...freeze-dried or frozen (they've been linked to lockjaw in lions), and many fish refuse to east anything else once they become used to eating freeze-dried krill.
nicknacs
Member
I just put in 3 dozen ghost shrimp last night, and I didn't see him eat them but he was defiantly hunting them. And the angel was housed with. A fuzzy dwarf lion thats fins looked fine but who was also dull colored and very skinny but he wouldn't eat. So I figured that particular angel would be a safe tank mate.
They sold all the rubble rock an hour before I got there grrrr I bought 5 lbs of smaller pieces and put it in the sump. I also bought 10 snails, not sure the type but the a huge so hopefully they don't get ate.
They sold all the rubble rock an hour before I got there grrrr I bought 5 lbs of smaller pieces and put it in the sump. I also bought 10 snails, not sure the type but the a huge so hopefully they don't get ate.
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saxman
Guest
Lionfish will NOT bother snails at all...in fact, they'll even leave hermits alone.
3 dozen ghosties is a little much. Your lion should be eating about 4-6 ghosties about 3x a week, which is PLENTY. If your fish stuffed itself, it may not eat for awhile, just giving you a heads up.
3 dozen ghosties is a little much. Your lion should be eating about 4-6 ghosties about 3x a week, which is PLENTY. If your fish stuffed itself, it may not eat for awhile, just giving you a heads up.
nicknacs
Member
I thought it was 2 much to but after the angel ate them all so quick the first time I didn't want to drive back to the fish store. It takes me 30 mins each way with no traffic. And they are only 2$ a dozen so its no a huge cost to feed him live if I had to. But he was eating the mysiss from the cubes so I'm going to
Try the silversides again today and see how far I get. I think he's afraid of the stick so I'm going to try to find something else to put it on.
Try the silversides again today and see how far I get. I think he's afraid of the stick so I'm going to try to find something else to put it on.
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saxman
Guest
Did you make the "stealth stick" that's described in the feeding article? There's honestly nothing better than that.
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saxman
Guest
I'm sure it's scaring the fish...seriously, go for the stealth stick. We've had most people who switch tell us that they've never used anything better.
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saxman
Guest
Sounds like the LR may be the culprit...was it cured/dirty?
You didn't happen to pour any LFS water into your tank did you?
You didn't happen to pour any LFS water into your tank did you?
nicknacs
Member
No lfs water, dripped the fish n dumped the water. we have a r/o unit with month old filters so I'm sure it's not the water source cuz the other 2 tanks are good. Ammonia is still 0 n so are nitrites. So it has to be the live rock or the lava rock n deco rocks I put in 2 days before. The live was straight from the tank at the store. I just rinsed in in r/o water n stuck it in. The deco rocks and lava where dry on the shelf for over a month by the date on the tags.
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saxman
Guest
Did you net the ghosties out of their water as well?
nicknacs
Member
And I do agree that Qt is important, and would hate to lose my whole tank. But I don't plan on buying anything else for a long time. Unless the guy at the store texts me with the lion i originally wanted. But all the fish came from the same store within 2 days of each other and all his tanks share the same water anyway. So it just seemed pointless to set up a new empty tank for fish that where in all in the same water anyway. I have no idea why the text keeps changing either, dam iphone!
nicknacs
Member
Well the lion died last night, the nitrates where at 30 which is high but shouldn't of killed it . I changed 40 gallons after I found him dead and the ammonia n nitrites are still 0 and nitrates are at like 5. He was full grown, so it might have just been his time.
On a happier note the angel is getting a lot of his color back so hopefully I won't loose him to.
On a happier note the angel is getting a lot of his color back so hopefully I won't loose him to.
nicknacs
Member
Well the angel died, I have no idea what's wrong with this tank. The water tests are all good. Ammonia has gone up some Im guessing from the dead fish . The only other thing I can think of is because it was used is there was some chemical in there. I filled it with r/o water n ran it for a few days b drained it but maybe that wasn't enough. I think I'm going to break it down and give it a really good vinigar bath and try again. All I got left is a yellow tang, will two young ones from the same tank at the store get along in a 220? Or should I just return it?
nicknacs
Member
its been 2 weeks now with all new water and everything is testing OK. the snails are still alive and there are 4 damsels in the tank. They were picking on the bigger fish in my brothers big tank and managed to kill 10 green chromis in a day and nip a good chunk out of the yellow tangs top fin so they got evicted. Hopefully some in in the area wants some free damsels but in the mean time they are helping the tank along I guess. I will wait a few more weeks before i try to add a lion fish again.