Lionfish acting weird

[jrivera]

My lionfish is ating very strange. Usually he hangs out behind the decor in the tank till its time to eat. But for the past 3 days hes been swimming back and forth in the tank at the top. He's actually been swimming faster then i've ever seen him before. Im wondering if he might of swallowed something that hes trying to pass or what. PLease let me know what you think.

[Recty]

I've seen fish do that when they want out of the water, something in there bugging them. Is the tank established well? Maybe you've got some ammonia building up... do a test for it.

I'd also do a large water change.

[Ranchero]

Hes doing his laps

Is your water temp where its supposed to be? How long have you had him?

[MrTuskfish]

Is this a Volitans Lion? If so, I'd expect other fish to be acting distressed too. Volitans are extremely hardy fish and handle poor water conditions like a damsel (years ago, they were recommended as cycle fish). Of course, do water tests/changes; but I suspect something else.

[DoubleM 10]

check your water. i have had (fuzzy)lionfish almost near death overnight. and was able to save them.

do your tests. if out of order do a water change.

is he eating?

do you have a pic of what hes doing?

how big of a tank?

how old is the tank?

how long have you had the fish in the tank he is no?

i think if we want to help we need more info

matt

[seahorsedreams]

Could he be trying to shed?

[jrivera]

Hes been in the tank about a year, well 6 months at my house it was someonelses before me so the tank is extablished. Its a 300 gallon fish only. The other fish are acting normal. I will be doing a water test when I go to work tomorrow. Hes not eating which is really strange because thats the one thing he does best ha.

[SkullV]

What are the other fish? Fish like Triggers and specifically puffers can stress lion fish to death by chewing on their spines.

[jrivera]

spiny box puffer which i know isnt messing with him becuase he stays right by the glass and follows us when we walk by. Theres a yellow tang, atlantic powder blue, blue hippo, tomato clown, black white bird wrasse, flounder, and a damsel

[DoubleM 10]

Personally I think all the fish he is paired with are way faster and more aggressive than he is. I'll bet it's the combination of fish you have home in their with.

My lions are with very slow animals. Eels and marine betta. Both pretty slow and sloppy swimmers.

All of yours are very fast and great swimmers.

That's just my opinion

[SkullV]

Originally Posted by jrivera

spiny box puffer which i know isnt messing with him becuase he stays right by the glass and follows us when we walk by. Theres a yellow tang, atlantic powder blue, blue hippo, tomato clown, black white bird wrasse, flounder, and a damsel

That's a lot of big fast fish to be keeping with a lion. It is also a terrible idea to kep a puffer with a lion because they can be injured by the spines when they try to chew them up. If you don't mind can you please share your tank size and water parameters? Have you seen any random slime floating around or coming off of the lionfish?

[jrivera]

like i said its a 300 gallon 8x4x3 and he gets fed by him self because the other fish dont eat what he does. ITs not like hes just sitting there and not eating. Hes just doin laps in the tank 24/7.

[SkullV]

What do you feed him specifically and what are your water parameters?

[namxas]

As mentioned, your water parameters may give you some clue to the behavior.

Also, has anything in the system been changed recently (equip't, tankmates, decor)?

Since it's winter, has your house been closed up? Could be low dissolved O2 due to a closed house and heater being on.

As seahorsedreams mentioned, it could be trying to shed its cuticle as well. Our volitans acts "differently" as a molting gets close as they need to loosen the cuticle.

I'd say possibly a stray electrical leakage, but if the other fish seem OK, probably not.

[jrivera]

Ya i just did a water test at work and everything checked out.
The other fish are acting normal. I usually feed him silversides, i just got him frozen sand eels to feed him. Im thinking hes just trying to pass something in his digestive tract.