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Lion fish

Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Fish
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about fish.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8792
Printed Date: February 25 2026 at 12:17pm
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Topic: Lion fish
Posted By: Tyler Stewart
Subject: Lion fish
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 11:34am

I want to put a Lion Fish in my reef tank and wanted to know what the pros and cons are of putting one in my tank.

Tyler




Replies:
Posted By: ssilcox
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 11:35am

Lots of pros - I love lionfish in reefs.

Just make sure there is NOTHING else in the tank that could possibly fit in his mouth.

And just keep your fingers away from those spines...



Posted By: LostCauseZ06
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 11:55am
id suggest getting a dwarf lion.. otherwise he will outgrow everything and eat everything inthe tank... if you get a dwarf it will not keep growing.. thus keeping your other fishies safe


Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 12:12pm

Talk to Suzy about lionfish in reefs.

This isn't very indepth but may help http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/9/lines - http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/9/lines

Adam



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Come to a meeting, they�re fun!


Posted By: Tyler Stewart
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 12:20pm
Hey, how about a Dwarf Zebra Lionfish?


Posted By: LostCauseZ06
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 2:09pm
DO IT!! very sweet fish!! only problem with lion fish is they hide ALOT...


Posted By: Will Spencer
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 3:10pm

Originally posted by LostCauseZ06 LostCauseZ06 wrote:

only problem with lion fish is they hide ALOT...

They do???

My Volitans never leaves the front of the tank.  He just keeps staring at me hoping I'll feed him some more.

I've had this fish for just over a month now and love it.  Yes this species will get big.  Right now he's about 7 inches long and he is a total pig so will probably be a fast grower.  I put him in a FOWLR tank with about 6 small Damsels.  After 6 weeks I'm down to 1 damsel. 

I certainly wouldn't put him in my reef as he could eat more than half the fish in there, but if you don't want to keep small fish a Lionfish would be just fine on a reef.  Even big Lionfish couldn't eat a medium sized tang so if that is the type of fish you wish to keep with it, it shouldn't be a problem.  That doesn't mean they won't try to eat larger fish, but they won't be able to.  My Volitans tried to eat the 4" Kliens Butterfly I put in the tank Monday, but for some reason it just woudn't fit in it mouth.



Posted By: Tyler Stewart
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 4:09pm
What if I got a small one?  I do have some Chromis', a 6 line, a percula, two Tangs about 3-4".  I dont know because if they got eaten by the guy, my wife would kill me.  That is why I dont have an eel anymore.  If I got a small one, would it still be able to eat those smaller guys?


Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 4:12pm

I'd say a small lionfish would make history of those fish in a hurry.

Adam



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Come to a meeting, they�re fun!


Posted By: Tyler Stewart
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 4:15pm
Well then, I guees that eliminates the lionfish.  What other cool fish can I put in there? I have a 65 gal reef with the fish noted above already in there.  Oh, and a bi-color blenny.  I just need something new because I get stuck in ruts where I get bored with my tank.  Any other fish ideas?


Posted By: LostCauseZ06
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 4:48pm
i dont totally agree with adam...  a dwarf lionfish gets like 4 inches tops... ryan has had a bunch that were fully grown and they were tiny...  and they hid ALL the time.. they were never swimming around... just hiding in a rock 24/7... according to ryan, most hte ones he has had hid during the day and only came out at night... maybe adam just starves his lionfish??? hehe


Posted By: ssilcox
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 5:02pm
You would be amazed at how large of a fish a lion can actually eat. I had a small volitan that I was sure wouldnt be able to eat a clown that was the same size as the lion... sure enough, 10 minutes after putting him into the tank the clown was history. Took a couple gulps... but he got it down.


Posted By: LostCauseZ06
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 5:05pm
hahhhahha thats awesome! they are reef safe right?? maybe ill do a lion/coral only tank, that would be sweet!!


Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 5:19pm

Yep reef safe, you just described Suzy's sweet tank.

Adam



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Come to a meeting, they�re fun!


Posted By: LostCauseZ06
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 5:38pm
really??? im talking like 4 lions though... can they live together in peace? or am i only allowed 1???


Posted By: Tyler Stewart
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 5:55pm
Ryan who??????


Posted By: Will Spencer
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 6:01pm
I'd have to agree with ssilcox, It's amazing how big a fish they can eat.  Not as bad as the Frogfish though.  It can eat a Lionfish as big as itself.


Posted By: Tyler Stewart
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 6:27pm

Well then, I guees that eliminates the lionfish.  What other cool fish can I put in there? I have a 65 gal reef with the fish noted above already in there.  Oh, and a bi-color blenny.  I just need something new because I get stuck in ruts where I get bored with my tank.  Any other fish ideas?



Posted By: ryanj
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 9:11pm
i just bought a scooter blenny and it is way cool to watch.  Also anthias are cool.


Posted By: jeffras
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 9:35pm
lawnmower blennies are sweet. Talk about a fish with personality!!!
A great addition to a reef tank and very hardy!


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Jeff Rasmussen



Posted By: Suzy
Date Posted: October 27 2005 at 10:27pm
I think it depends on what you are looking for in a fish: Something really
sexy, never hides and eats out of your hand?




My sexy antennata lives in my reef with a scopus tang, a porcupine
puffer, a green spot dragonette and a LAWNMOWER BLENNY!

And, he is much hotter than Wills Volitan!

I even have a peppermint shrimp with him! I only see him when I take off
the background and look into the back of the rock. Weird creature, hides
all the time! I do often see Ooday perched outside the shrimps front
door....


Posted By: LostCauseZ06
Date Posted: October 28 2005 at 9:57am

well i just so happend to buy two lions last night



Posted By: dukester48
Date Posted: October 28 2005 at 11:36am
Im not in the market for fish until I finish My new tank but Im pretty sure my first fish will be a flame hawkfish, they are awsome!



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