Who will survive if I get a Dwarf Lionfish

TexasMike · 04/29/2012, 01:51 PM

My current community of fish are:

3 adult chromis
2 Dispar Anthias
1 Diamond Goby
1 McCosker Flasher Wrasse

I'm guessing the Anthias and Wrasse will be expensive meals for the Dwarf Lionfish?

-Thanks

sra127 · 04/29/2012, 02:41 PM

Anything it can fit in it's mouth could be lunch. Plus u need to be careful every time u put ur hands in the tank so IMO lion fish are good for aggressive fish only tanks or
LEft in the ocean, and not in fl!!!

Psirex · 04/29/2012, 03:06 PM

The lion fish....

TexasMike · 04/29/2012, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psirex

the lion fish....

lol.

Charley Diesing · 04/29/2012, 03:33 PM

Anything its own body length, he will swallow... You would be shocked what they can do.

eatbreakfast · 04/29/2012, 05:28 PM

They all could possibly end up on the menu, and being in an enclosuren definately gives the edge to the lion. That said if you get a juvie, and he is too small to eat anyone, he may grow up with the idea he cant eat those guys. You wouldnt be able to add any tankmates that he could eat, but if you wanted to.....
As far as demeanor goes lions are pretty docile as long as it doesnt fit in their mouth.

snorvich · 04/29/2012, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psirex

The lion fish....

My vote as well.

TexasMike · 04/29/2012, 06:56 PM

Thanks for the info everyone.

For those that have had dwarf lionfish. Are they really worth it? Meaning, are they fun/interesting to watch? I think they are a beautiful fish. I'm pretty bored with my current stock of fish. I've had the chromis' for 3 years and feel that I'd be letting them down (dang human emotions). The diamond goby is pretty cool too.

I definately don't want just a lion in a 120g tank.

SushiGirl · 04/29/2012, 07:41 PM

The guy that got me into this hobby put a dwarf lion in his reef tank because he thought it would be active & awesome. He was disappointed because it just sat there most of the time LOL.

Spartanman22 · 04/29/2012, 07:45 PM

I had a dwarf lion in my old 75 reef initially thinking he would be a cool new addition that would be a little out of the ordinary for a reef tank. All of the inhabitants were larger (I managed to find a pretty small dwarf), and there was never any attempts by the dwarf to go after other fish. For reference I had, a coris wrasse, a mandarin, two perculas, a potters angel, a scopas tang, and chromis and none of the fish ended up as expensive snacks.

The downside to the dwarf was that they aren't very active fish. Mine spent most of the time perched on the rock or on the front corner of the glass. I was also pretty nervous putting my hands in the tank especially when I couldn't see where the lionfish was.

All in all I would suggest against it. I think there are cooler and more active unordinary fish that you could look into, but that's just my personal opinion.

Hope that helps!

TexasMike · 04/29/2012, 07:51 PM

Thanks Sushi and Sparta. I guess I'll have to overcome my wanting need and take the advice given.

The one my LFS has is such a beauty though.

Thanks again.

NatureNerd · 04/29/2012, 11:18 PM

I had a P. radiata for years in my reef. I got it when it was only 2.5" long. Yes, it was beautiful. No, it was not that interesting. It sat, hanging upside down, in the corner of the tank until the lights went out. Then it hunted for a few minutes before returning to it's spot.

Perhaps it was because I kept it well fed. This might explain the inactivity, and the fact that it never even tried to eat another fish. I had a firefish, small gobies, a small six-line, and clownfish. Never lost a single fish. Ended up giving it to a friend after three years because kids were on there way and I worried about hands in the tank.

khalid · 04/30/2012, 10:29 AM

Had one for a couple of years and I don't think I would get another one. As most people I thought it would be more active but the only time I ever saw my dwarf swimming around was when he saw me and was waiting for his feeders to be put in. Another thing that sucked was he wouldn't eat anything but live fish so I was a pain getting feeders every week and having a small freshwater set up for them.

NatureNerd · 04/30/2012, 01:38 PM

As far as feeding, mine loved frozen/defrosted silverside pieces and an occasional small defrosted shrimp. Grab it with tongs, wiggle it around in the water near him, and drop it quickly just before he strikes.

MaxxedMan · 04/30/2012, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SushiGirl

it just sat there most of the time

Ambush predators. They just sit still and wait for something to swim by they can eat. They don't do much.

SushiGirl · 04/30/2012, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaxxedMan

Ambush predators. They just sit still and wait for something to swim by they can eat. They don't do much.

Yep.

Mouse · 04/30/2012, 09:49 PM

If it will fit, he will eat it.
If a lionfish could open its mouth wide enough it would eat itself.

04/29/2012, 01:51 PM	#1
TexasMike Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Clear Lake, Tx Posts: 165	Who will survive if I get a Dwarf Lionfish My current community of fish are: 3 adult chromis 2 Dispar Anthias 1 Diamond Goby 1 McCosker Flasher Wrasse I'm guessing the Anthias and Wrasse will be expensive meals for the Dwarf Lionfish? -Thanks __________________ 120g. mixed reef, 40g refugium, 3 AI SOL Blue, BRS GFO and carbon reactors, BR-110 Reef Octopus Bio Pellet Reactor Octopus XP 2000 Skimmer, JBJ ATO, Milwaukee PH probe, 1 MP40, 2 Koralia 3's, 1/4 Oceanic chiller 3 Dispar Anthias, 3 Chromis, 1 Diamond Goby, 1 McCosker's Flasher Wrasse

04/29/2012, 02:41 PM	#2
sra127 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl Posts: 673	Anything it can fit in it's mouth could be lunch. Plus u need to be careful every time u put ur hands in the tank so IMO lion fish are good for aggressive fish only tanks or LEft in the ocean, and not in fl!!! __________________ 90 Gallon, 30 Gallon Fuge, Octo 150 DNWB, 18 Watt UV, Carbon and Phosban, MP 40, 2 Icecap 660's running 6 T5's, Lots of coral, PBT, Naso, Yellow, Pair of B&W Clowns, Purple Firefish, Sixline and Radiant Wrasse 14 Gallon Nano, 150 HQI, Lots of frags, Clam, 1 Rainford goby needing a buddy.... Current Tank Info: 300 gallon custom tank.

04/29/2012, 03:06 PM	#3
Psirex Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 1,934	The lion fish.... __________________ SALINITY NOW....

04/29/2012, 03:33 PM	#5
Charley Diesing Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,162	Anything its own body length, he will swallow... You would be shocked what they can do. __________________ Have dominion over the fish of the sea Current Tank Info: Currently Tankless: In the planning stage of next build.

04/29/2012, 06:56 PM	#8
TexasMike Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Clear Lake, Tx Posts: 165	Thanks for the info everyone. For those that have had dwarf lionfish. Are they really worth it? Meaning, are they fun/interesting to watch? I think they are a beautiful fish. I'm pretty bored with my current stock of fish. I've had the chromis' for 3 years and feel that I'd be letting them down (dang human emotions). The diamond goby is pretty cool too. I definately don't want just a lion in a 120g tank. __________________ 120g. mixed reef, 40g refugium, 3 AI SOL Blue, BRS GFO and carbon reactors, BR-110 Reef Octopus Bio Pellet Reactor Octopus XP 2000 Skimmer, JBJ ATO, Milwaukee PH probe, 1 MP40, 2 Koralia 3's, 1/4 Oceanic chiller 3 Dispar Anthias, 3 Chromis, 1 Diamond Goby, 1 McCosker's Flasher Wrasse

04/29/2012, 05:28 PM	#6
eatbreakfast Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: seymour, ct Posts: 1,636	They all could possibly end up on the menu, and being in an enclosuren definately gives the edge to the lion. That said if you get a juvie, and he is too small to eat anyone, he may grow up with the idea he cant eat those guys. You wouldnt be able to add any tankmates that he could eat, but if you wanted to..... As far as demeanor goes lions are pretty docile as long as it doesnt fit in their mouth.

04/29/2012, 07:41 PM	#9
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	The guy that got me into this hobby put a dwarf lion in his reef tank because he thought it would be active & awesome. He was disappointed because it just sat there most of the time LOL. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

04/29/2012, 07:45 PM	#10
Spartanman22 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Oswego Posts: 1,314	I had a dwarf lion in my old 75 reef initially thinking he would be a cool new addition that would be a little out of the ordinary for a reef tank. All of the inhabitants were larger (I managed to find a pretty small dwarf), and there was never any attempts by the dwarf to go after other fish. For reference I had, a coris wrasse, a mandarin, two perculas, a potters angel, a scopas tang, and chromis and none of the fish ended up as expensive snacks. The downside to the dwarf was that they aren't very active fish. Mine spent most of the time perched on the rock or on the front corner of the glass. I was also pretty nervous putting my hands in the tank especially when I couldn't see where the lionfish was. All in all I would suggest against it. I think there are cooler and more active unordinary fish that you could look into, but that's just my personal opinion. Hope that helps!

04/29/2012, 07:51 PM	#11
TexasMike Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Clear Lake, Tx Posts: 165	Thanks Sushi and Sparta. I guess I'll have to overcome my wanting need and take the advice given. The one my LFS has is such a beauty though. Thanks again. __________________ 120g. mixed reef, 40g refugium, 3 AI SOL Blue, BRS GFO and carbon reactors, BR-110 Reef Octopus Bio Pellet Reactor Octopus XP 2000 Skimmer, JBJ ATO, Milwaukee PH probe, 1 MP40, 2 Koralia 3's, 1/4 Oceanic chiller 3 Dispar Anthias, 3 Chromis, 1 Diamond Goby, 1 McCosker's Flasher Wrasse

04/29/2012, 11:18 PM	#12
NatureNerd Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 877	I had a P. radiata for years in my reef. I got it when it was only 2.5" long. Yes, it was beautiful. No, it was not that interesting. It sat, hanging upside down, in the corner of the tank until the lights went out. Then it hunted for a few minutes before returning to it's spot. Perhaps it was because I kept it well fed. This might explain the inactivity, and the fact that it never even tried to eat another fish. I had a firefish, small gobies, a small six-line, and clownfish. Never lost a single fish. Ended up giving it to a friend after three years because kids were on there way and I worried about hands in the tank. __________________ Reef tanks since 1987. Current tank: 75g SPS dominated reef tank set up in 1996

04/30/2012, 10:29 AM	#13
khalid Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Broadlands, Va. Posts: 120	Had one for a couple of years and I don't think I would get another one. As most people I thought it would be more active but the only time I ever saw my dwarf swimming around was when he saw me and was waiting for his feeders to be put in. Another thing that sucked was he wouldn't eat anything but live fish so I was a pain getting feeders every week and having a small freshwater set up for them.

04/30/2012, 01:38 PM	#14
NatureNerd Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 877	As far as feeding, mine loved frozen/defrosted silverside pieces and an occasional small defrosted shrimp. Grab it with tongs, wiggle it around in the water near him, and drop it quickly just before he strikes. __________________ Reef tanks since 1987. Current tank: 75g SPS dominated reef tank set up in 1996

04/30/2012, 09:49 PM	#17
Mouse UnRegistered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Rio Linda CA Posts: 739	If it will fit, he will eat it. If a lionfish could open its mouth wide enough it would eat itself. __________________ Somedays it just isnt worth gnawing through the straps...... Current Tank Info: 125g > < this close to being set up