Im planning on adding a lionfish to my tank (110 gal.). Is there anything I should know about these guys? From what I can figure, they eat small fish (which isnt a problem all I have are two juv. angel. I traded in my little goby), and that they can sting (which I heard feels like a bee sting) and that I shouldnt feed them everyday. Is there anything else I should know? Any help would be appreciated.
Lionfish Question
- Thread starter Roly
- Start date
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They are predatory carnivores. Do not feed them freshwater feeder fishes (e.g., mollies, guppies, goldfish, etc.). Their best diet are whole marine/seafoods two or three times a week.
While in quarantine, train the fish to eat dead whole foods so you're not forced to provide living foods all the time. Makes the aquarist's life a lot easier! I also think that this is one thing that hermit crabs are truly good for -- predatory food. Get 'em cheap and the size that's right for the fish. Smash/crack open the shell and drop the naked crab near the fish. The fish will know what to do.
Keep its food seafoods.
Get a meat syringe and inject the food with vitamins and fat supplements. Other food suggestions are given in the sticky posts for feeding fishes.
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15720
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15719
Depending upon the species, they often like to 'hang out' on a ledge or even vertical portions of rock as they sit still hoping an unsuspecting meal may swim by. Otherwise, like most marine fishes, they should be kept in excellent quality water with good care.
While in quarantine, train the fish to eat dead whole foods so you're not forced to provide living foods all the time. Makes the aquarist's life a lot easier! I also think that this is one thing that hermit crabs are truly good for -- predatory food. Get 'em cheap and the size that's right for the fish. Smash/crack open the shell and drop the naked crab near the fish. The fish will know what to do.
Keep its food seafoods.Get a meat syringe and inject the food with vitamins and fat supplements. Other food suggestions are given in the sticky posts for feeding fishes.
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15720
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15719
Depending upon the species, they often like to 'hang out' on a ledge or even vertical portions of rock as they sit still hoping an unsuspecting meal may swim by. Otherwise, like most marine fishes, they should be kept in excellent quality water with good care.
Except at the seconds of ingesting prey, the Lionfish moves pretty slowly and deliberately. It is unlikely to hurt the Angels.
On the other hand Angels can spook easily and make a mad dash for cover. Some do this in a 'less than intelligent' manner, if you know what I mean, and run into things. There is always a chance that an Angel in a 'stupid moment' would run into the Lionfish, but the added chance of the poisonous spines being in just the right position is very, very unlikely.
The Angels should leave the Lionfish alone, unless your Angel (for some reason) is frisky or extra 'stupid.'
The Lionfish can consider the Angels as food up to almost what you think would be a size twice the 'normal' size for Lionfish food. That is, if the Angels are less than twice the size of the opened Lionfish's mouth, they are potential Lionfish food.
On the other hand Angels can spook easily and make a mad dash for cover. Some do this in a 'less than intelligent' manner, if you know what I mean, and run into things. There is always a chance that an Angel in a 'stupid moment' would run into the Lionfish, but the added chance of the poisonous spines being in just the right position is very, very unlikely.
The Angels should leave the Lionfish alone, unless your Angel (for some reason) is frisky or extra 'stupid.'
The Lionfish can consider the Angels as food up to almost what you think would be a size twice the 'normal' size for Lionfish food. That is, if the Angels are less than twice the size of the opened Lionfish's mouth, they are potential Lionfish food.
Damsel13
Well-known member
Darn that is some to the point information. Fantastic!
brady816
Well-known member
what type of lionfish are you planning on getting???? I feed mine mysis shrimp and silversides....if you get the dwarf lionfish you will be able to keep other fish in there. I have 2 dwarf lion fish and i have 2 clown fish in mine...I feed my guys once every three days.....
twilliard
What next?
My 7" Volitan is kinda lazzy. Eats full silversides. Has never stung me, I stay away from it. It did eat a clown I had. Gulped it right up, about a 2 1/2" clown.
It will eat what ever gets in front of it if it isn't too big.
Otherwise just another fish. Enjoy it!
It will eat what ever gets in front of it if it isn't too big.
Otherwise just another fish.
Enjoy it!
Maxx
Staff Housemonkey
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2003
- Messages
- 2,935
Lionfish stings arent quite "like a bee sting", they're quite a bit stronger than that. Like most marine animal venoms, heat is the best treatment immediately followed by a trip to the ER. Extremely high temperature water applied to the punture and afflicted area will denature the proteins in the venom and relieve the pain.
Nick
Nick
Another option for feeding is to acclimate Mollies to saltwater. Common Mollies are actually not a freshwater fish in the wild. They're brakish...but can be acclimated to either freshwater or full strength saltwater. This would probably entail having a tank set up for them though...lol. I do know of a local LFS though that sells SW mollies on a regular basis. Also keep in mind that they're slow moving normally but if it feels threatened, will puff out it's fins and bluff "charge," which could result in a nasty sting to either other fish (which would most likely kill them) or you!!
