which fish

grand reef1 · 02/26/2009, 03:19 PM

I'm woundering should I get some clownfish, coral, and other invertibrates. Or should I go with the lionfish ( what other critters should go with a lionfish) What o what should I do

I'm actually going to get a 55 gallon tank now.

JEFFR259 · 02/26/2009, 03:34 PM

Depends on your budget.

If you want to go coral, you'll need better equipment (compared to housing a lionfish) like filters and lighting. This equals a higher $$$ investment when setting up the tank. This also entails more care and time spent on tank upkeep.

Clownfish are pretty simple to keep and don't require super-high end equipment. If, however, you want an anemone for it to host/live in, you'll need the high-end lights/filters etc. Although clownfish by no means require anemone's to be happy.

Inverts in general are pretty easy to keep, but it does depend greatly on what type you're looking to get. Hermit crabs, some starfish and Turbo snails are simple to keep.

If you decide to go the Lionfish route, basic equipment will suffice. You are going to have to select the type of lionfish carefully though as a larger Volitan Lionfish can grow and get cramped quickly in a 55g. Smaller Lionfish species (like dwarf) would do just fine. AS far as tankmates for Lionfish...you have to be selective here also. Basically, you can only keep fish that the Lionfish can't swallow

Lionfish will certainly hunt down and eat fish like clownfish, gobies, small wrasses etc. Good Lionfish tankmates can be smaller groupers (not many stay small though), angels (Centropyge species, any other types, like Queens, get too big for a 55), some of the more docile Triggerfish (like Niger or Blue-Throat).

Basically just do tons of research, ask lots of questions here, and determine what route you want to go as far as what type of animals you want to house. Hope this helps.

02/26/2009, 03:19 PM	#1
grand reef1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Vermont Posts: 143	which fish I'm woundering should I get some clownfish, coral, and other invertibrates. Or should I go with the lionfish ( what other critters should go with a lionfish) What o what should I do I'm actually going to get a 55 gallon tank now.

02/26/2009, 03:34 PM	#2
JEFFR259 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 595	Depends on your budget. If you want to go coral, you'll need better equipment (compared to housing a lionfish) like filters and lighting. This equals a higher $$$ investment when setting up the tank. This also entails more care and time spent on tank upkeep. Clownfish are pretty simple to keep and don't require super-high end equipment. If, however, you want an anemone for it to host/live in, you'll need the high-end lights/filters etc. Although clownfish by no means require anemone's to be happy. Inverts in general are pretty easy to keep, but it does depend greatly on what type you're looking to get. Hermit crabs, some starfish and Turbo snails are simple to keep. If you decide to go the Lionfish route, basic equipment will suffice. You are going to have to select the type of lionfish carefully though as a larger Volitan Lionfish can grow and get cramped quickly in a 55g. Smaller Lionfish species (like dwarf) would do just fine. AS far as tankmates for Lionfish...you have to be selective here also. Basically, you can only keep fish that the Lionfish can't swallow Lionfish will certainly hunt down and eat fish like clownfish, gobies, small wrasses etc. Good Lionfish tankmates can be smaller groupers (not many stay small though), angels (Centropyge species, any other types, like Queens, get too big for a 55), some of the more docile Triggerfish (like Niger or Blue-Throat). Basically just do tons of research, ask lots of questions here, and determine what route you want to go as far as what type of animals you want to house. Hope this helps. Last edited by JEFFR259; 02/26/2009 at 03:39 PM.