Re: survey
The following is is a list of questions/topics about this fish species. If you would like to include them in your reply, click on the last icon of this post (Reply with Quote), and remove the [ QUOTE ] [ B ] tag in the beginning and the [/QUOTE][/B] at the end.
SELECTION
Did you mail order this fish and would you recommend mail order this fish? Are there captive-raised/bred specimen available and where?
I bought mine from a LFS
Any tips on how you picked a healthy specimen of this species from LFS? What do you think is the ideal size to get?
Pick one that is not in the defensive position at the store and is eating something! Also, look for any body leisions and/or fin problems. I would say the ideal size depends on its tankmates. I like to pick a new fish that is still a juvy (Sp?), but not older than an early teen.
Are there any noticeable differences in body shape, pattern or color among the same species or between juvenile and adult of this species?
Not that I can tell.
Is there a way to tell the sex of this fish?
Not without doing irreparable damage (Surgery)
ACCLIMATION AND INTRODUCTION
Any special tips about the acclimation and introduction of this fish?
Spend about 45 mins acclimating, no more! Put fish in final tank with tankmates after lights out or turn them out for the day. They like to hide until the initial stress of moving them is over.
Any special needs for this fish or special considerations for young specimen?
Lots and lots of free swimming space! Although they tend to stay in one spot, they will move at night. More space means they can navigate without bumping into rocks and the glass.
Should this fish be the first or the last to introduce to a tank?
Does not matter, they adapt extremely well.
COMPATIBILITY
What tankmates do you have with this fish?Is it a reef or FO tank?
I kept mine with a lunar wrasse (About 8" long) and a HumaHuma trigger (About 4" long), my lion got to about 10".
Have you had more than one of this species in the same tank? If so, is there a certain male/female ratio or group number worked for you (to have a harem or pecking order)? Do they school?
I would love to have at least four lions in a tank, however, my tanks are too small. I would not put two in a tank smaller than 75 gallons.
Have you had other species of the same genus/family in the same tank?
Not at the same time.
What’s the stocking order (considering the above factors) that worked for you?
Trigger, wrasse, lion, eel.
Did this fish hurt/eat any of other fish (or vice versa)?
No problems whatsoever!
Did this fish hurt/eat Cnidaria (corals, mushrooms or anemones)?
None were in the tank with it.
Did this fish hurt/eat ornamental crustaceans (shrimps, hermits, crabs)?
None were in the tank with it.
FEEDING
How did you get this fish to eat at first?
It was eating live guppies, I used an eel feeder (Only the tube part) for about a week, then switched to putting a guppy in a net for about a week with thawed krill in the net also, then switched to ghost shrimp and krill, then to krill only in the net. From that point I went to dropping the krill in the tank near the lion. I fed every other day for this whole process.
If this fish only accepted live food, how did you wean it over to prepared food?
See above question.
What’s the diet? Krill and raw sea food from the grocery store.
How much and how often do you feed? About 2 guppys, five krill and a sugar cube size of crab or shrimp or oyster.
How does this fish eat?(grazers, active or sedentary predators, sand sifters, etc)
Heartily, however, it is a lazy predator and will pass on food that is more than one body length away from the lion.
GROWTH RATE AND LIFE SPAN
What is the initial size of your fish and maximum size it reached? How fast did it grow (how much growth over a given period of time)?
Initial size was about 2", he grew to about 6" within 6 mos., then to 10" the next 6 mos.
What size tank did this fish live in? (or how soon did this fish outgrow what size tank)? What do you think is the minimum tank size required for an adult specimen of this fish?
I had him in a 55 gallon tank. I think as long as they are under 12" the standard 55 gallon tank is ok. A 75 would be better.
If this fish went through body pattern change from juvenile to adult, was the change complete? How long did it take?
I did not notice any pattern or color changes due to age.
How long have you kept this fish? If you no longer have this fish, what was the cause?
I kept him for a little over 2 yrs. He died because he went blind. I really need to find out what supplements he needed.
What is the longest lifespan and the maximum size of this fish in home aquarium and/or in the wild reported?
I do not know.
DISEASE AND TREATMENT
What disease has this fish had? How did you treat it, for how long? What's the effect of the treatment?
He got popeye once, I treated it with Melafix as directed.
BEHAVIOR
Does this fish change body color under any circumstances?
Yes, as his health declined, his colors faded.
How active is this fish? Is this fish shy?
Sedentary fish that is not shy.
How territorial or aggressive is this fish? How does this fish interact with tankmates?
Not territorial or aggressive with tankmates. Pretty much ignores tankmates.
Did this fish ever jump out of the tank?
No
How does this fish sleep?
In the defensive position, (head down)
Does this fish allow cleaners to clean? If so which cleaner and how often?
Do not know.
How does this fish interact with human?
He knows and recognizes the feeder and will come to a "feeding station" at any time.
Any other interesting observation of this fish?
Once they have died, you will find you miss them a lot.
REPRODUCTION
If you have a mated pair, how did you get them to pair up?
Did not have a mated pair.
Any information of spawning in captivity?
Only what is available on the net.
SUMMARY
Your overall assessment of this species -
How sensitive is this fish to poor water quality on a scale of 1-5?
I believe they can tolerate fairly poor water quality.
1 - very tolerant, may survive a cycle in a new tank
True.
2 - quite tolerant, may survive accidental ammonia or nitrite spike
Definitely
3 - not terribly sensitive to reasonable pH, salinity or temperature changes
True
4 - sensitive to any significant water chemistry changes, and may show stress during such changes
Not true
5 - very sensitive to water quality, may easily get stressed and get sick with any change in water chemistry
Not true.
Would you recommend this fish to beginners?
No, feeding and care needed to not get invenomated is important. Venomous fish should not be kept by children or careless adults.
Any other recommendations/comments?
Since they are a predator, they are more intelligent than most other fish. Treat them accordingly. They will try to avoid hurting you if you treat them with respect.
If you have any picture(s) of this fish you took, please post it here and share with us!
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