Volitan Lionfish

[wldfowlr]

Hi guys...new here, so I thought I would seek an opinion or two...
I lost my Aqaurium during Hurricane Katrina...I am just now getting back to setting up the tank...Here is my question...Can I keep a pair of large Volitan Lionfish in a 55gal tank with just a few "hard" coral (crushed coral for substrate) and no other fish?
I have three large corals that are for "looks" only and all the fish I have had in the past did fine on this setup, but were passive?
The aquarium is built into the wall and framed like a painting on one side....On the other side I have a "refugium" setup behind the wall next to the tank, and all the equipment...I used to keep feeders and shrimp in it.
Suggestions?

 

[cal559]

Hi and welcome to the forum

I would only do 1 volitan lionfish because they can reach lengths of 15inches or so. You would still have to upgrade down the road to something larger for one...jmo though. Some sites say min. 50 gallons and some say 60 gallons.

55 gallons are only about 48inches long and 13-14inches wide so just think about that.

 

[premilove]

i think you should ditched the 55, and get a 100 - 150 and you will be fine with 2 v-lions. they get to a good 15 16 " as cal 559 said..JMO

 

[cal559]

+1 on tank size 100-150 gallons.
You could do a pair of fuzzy/zebra dwarf lionfish. They reach the max size of 7 inches.

 

[premilove]

+ 1 on the dwarf species. if you choose to get any lionfish, when you go to the LFS make sure they feed them in front of you. lionfish are extremely hard and picky when it comes to feeding. if you are a beginner, do not get a fu manchu, what ever you do. I like the fuzzy dwarf, they come in different colors. I know there is a member on here that has one in black, its awesome. I have seen a yellow one on another forum. It is really hard to find them in different colors...

 

[cal559]

I've never seen a black one just a red and a yellow one. I'm going to google that right now...lol

 

[premilove]

kydizzle 4551, 455 or some odd number order..he has one as his avatar, idk if thats a pic of his fish!

 

[doggiepuffer]

I agree. 150 gallon is 72" Long and 18" wide would be perfect for a pair, as that would give both of them plenty of swimming space. They just seem to glide in the water. Dwarfs are great for smaller tanks, +1 for mentioning the LFS show you that the lion is eating. Some dwarfs are hard to get to starting eating. Also, if you get one from the LFS, try to get one that has been there for awhile, so the move is not as stressful on the fish. I know the LFS here, has a hard time keeping lions, cause so many people buy them as soon as they come in from the company that they order the fish from.

 

[unleashed]

Originally Posted by wldfowlr
http:///forum/post/2842076
Hi guys...new here, so I thought I would seek an opinion or two...
I lost my Aqaurium during Hurricane Katrina...I am just now getting back to setting up the tank...Here is my question...Can I keep a pair of large Volitan Lionfish in a 55gal tank with just a few "hard" coral (crushed coral for substrate) and no other fish?
I have three large corals that are for "looks" only and all the fish I have had in the past did fine on this setup, but were passive?
The aquarium is built into the wall and framed like a painting on one side....On the other side I have a "refugium" setup behind the wall next to the tank, and all the equipment...I used to keep feeders and shrimp in it.
Suggestions?
i don't recommend it i would go for maybe a dwarf type myself for a 55.. yes lions can live together as they are seen many times in groups in the wild however the 55 is way to small to house one for very long. pictured here is a volitan lion he was 1 yr old in this pic he was aprox 2 inches when i purchased him.at that time he was in a 55 6 months later he went to a 120.. this pic is in a 300 he was about 11 inches long in this pic

 

[wldfowlr]

Thanks guys...I am going to upgrade to a much larger tank...need to wait until my wife leaves town for a week or so...that will give me time to cut a bigger whole in the wall...lol...
The coral and substrate setup is ok?...no special needs there right...just lots of space?
Thanks again...the LFS has a pair of jet black ones about 5-6" long each...wants 100 bucks for both....that is why I thought I would get them now, and transfer to a larger tank later...

 

[unleashed]

Originally Posted by wldfowlr
http:///forum/post/2842914
Thanks guys...I am going to upgrade to a much larger tank...need to wait until my wife leaves town for a week or so...that will give me time to cut a bigger whole in the wall...lol...
The coral and substrate setup is ok?...no special needs there right...just lots of space?
Thanks again...the LFS has a pair of jet black ones about 5-6" long each...wants 100 bucks for both....that is why I thought I would get them now, and transfer to a larger tank later...
cc is fine for them if your planning an upgrade very soon they shouldnt be an issue. in a 55. i def wanna see pics of jet black lions i have only seen black striped
for 100 bucks jet black id jump on them too

 

[wldfowlr]

I did not describe that right...they do have the white stripes, but they are very hard to see...I should have clarified that...they just LOOK jet black....
Thanks for the help ya'll....

 

[mboswell1982]

definitely get us some pics of these bad boys once u get em man, they sound like they are definitely beauties

 

[premilove]

ok if you keep them in the 55 try not to keep alot of LR..maximize there swimming space. keep in mind that you must upgrade. general rule of fish 1 inch 5 gallons. 6 inches max you are at 30 gal. for 2 you are at 60. and thats the min. try to craigslist it for a used tank. search search search! gl! LFS by me had black v-lions they look debo. although u could notice the white stripes..

 

[wldfowlr]

Thanks everyone...will post some pics when it is done.....

 

[hammerhed7]

there are some LFS out there that charge a premium for "black" lions that have very dark coloring, the white stripes on these fish tend to expand, and look like the standard pattern over time. Lions do vary in shade and darkness though, If you bought 5 different fish b the time the were adult size there would be a obvious difference in their color. I saw pics on another forum of a guy that had a lion only tank, 5 adult volitans in a 265, they were all different shades of red and black, very cool tank.