LionFishPsyco

Hey Everyone!
I have a question about Lion Fish.
How much Experience Do you
recommend to have a Lion Fish?

harpua2002

Once you get them eating prepared foods, they are pretty hardy IME.

What size tank do you have, and what kind of lion are you wanting?

LionFishPsyco

I don't Know if I Will get one, though they seem very interesting.
Right now, I'm researching all the Fish I can.
But I will be Trying to get a 55 Gallon Aquarium,
Wich Seems a good Size.

cerianthus

If you are allergic to peanut butter, shrimp/crustaceans or bee sting, etc, you should try avoiding such fish.

When decided to have one, would suggest 75 over 55. Only difference b/n 75 and 55G tank would be tank and cabinet price. Maybe lighting too dependingo on tank set up.

At least 75 has more room for them to roam and less chance of accidentally getting stung while cleaning the tank. No kidding. My father was stung couple of time by large Volitan while cleaning either 75G or 90G. He survived but was in pain for a while not to mention other symptoms like tingling sensation (pain?) on the tip of togue, etc. It can happened to anyone. He has been doing for many yrs when he first got stung and again. I know he had been beaten by snkaes on numerous occasions when he was young while hunting. He still is adventurous and I believe he will still out climb me on the range/mtn in his 70's.

Back to subject. Once decide to keep lion, just dont overfeed the greedy fish at one feeding. Can suffer greatly from such feeding.

Good luck with new s/w tank.

harpua2002

Good point Cerianthus! I've always been told that if you are allergic to bee stings and such, a lion is probably not a good idea without an Epi-pen. LOL.

I agree that 75 is a much better choice for a Volitan. However, there are dwarf lions that can work in a 55. Just don't get your heart set on inverts... any lion will make short work of them IME.

cerianthus

Harpua2002, believe it or not I have kept smaller fish an dinverts with lion, and of course, occassinally fish disappeared (very few, probably lost few from fighting when feud breaks out when I am not there. lol), but i learned there are ways to minimize such risks.

navyscuba

I love Lion Fish. When I was doing my Persian Gulf tour I went diving to Saudi Arabia to the Gulf of Oman. My gosh they were every where and lots of different colors and sizes. Also clown fish every where. I have a CD with about 700 pictures from that tour but I don't know where I put it.

LionFishPsyco

Ok,
Thanks for all the Answers.
I'm Not allergic to anything except Fur (exactly Why I like aquariums)
and I didn't Think You could have anything lower than 55 gallons,
isn't 55 Gallons the minimum?

harpua2002

I think you can keep a dwarf lion in a smaller tank, but 55 would be ideal IMO. Good for you for researching before buying!

cerianthus.... WOW! Not many in the hobby that I have known were gutsy enough to try a lion with inverts. I'm glad it worked out for you! Would you agree that a good way to minimize such risks would be to keep a dwarf lion, instead of a Volitan?

cerianthus

No such thing as minimum. Bigger the better for any fish, lol!
Merely pointing out the price diference b/n 55 and 75 is nominal unless that extra 5" from front to back is problem where tank will be sitting.

harpua2002

Agreed, to a point. The cost difference in tanks and stands can be a challenge if you're strapped for cash.

cerianthus

When I was young, added cleaner wrasse to tank which had med size radiata/antennata( dont remeber which for sure anymore). Wrasse did not even made down to bottom. That experience, I still remember even after 30 yrs. (around).
Then s/w fish were very expensive and hard to come by. Never made same mistake again. But surprisingly enough, when the smaller fishes/shrimps were well acquainted w/ its surroundings in the reef or FOWLR before lions were added, very unlikely things will go wrong because they usually outsmart the lion unless one may be very bold fish.

I am not saying or suggesting such move but just pointing out the facts from experiences that it can be done.
As far as Dwarf, it was my least desired. Would go for FuManChu or Radiata (bit more delicate, IMO).

LionFishPsyco

I have one more question,
Is it Actually Easy To Keep a LionFish (Other than not Touching its Spines)
Because On the LionFish's Profile It says, Easy To Moderate.

cerianthus

Lionfish are pretty easy to take care of. Just make sure dont give it an opportunity to swallow smaller fish. As I have mentioned, just make sure you dont stuff his/her face at one sitting. As far as determiing wether fish is eating or not before the purchase, I have not seen lion which did not poke his/her face or spine out of water when I approached the tank and of course this only when well adjusted to tank. You could just move around the front of the tank in LFS to see if the lions are alert following your shadow.

Trying not to have the lion fed too much before the catching/bagging since can/will regurgitate during transport, fouling up water. Depending on the duration of trip, it can be fatal.