Lionfish Tankmates

JRM88 · #1 03/01/2007, 06:43 PM

I am wanting to setup a saltwater tank, yet I can't decide on what fish I want to keep so I can't decide what size tank to buy. If I get a lionfish I will get a 50gallon tank, but if I don't want to get the lionfish I will probably get a 40gallon tank. What tankmates would I be able to put in with the lionfish without worrying about them getting eaten? Thanks

mrferrit · #2 03/01/2007, 07:16 PM

anything that can fit in their mouths is potential prey and will get eaten also you might want to rethink a large lion species they grow very fast and eat alot and will outgrow your 50 gal. mine is almost to big for my 180 right now and still growing. so maby a dwarf lion or something
oohhh BTW

JRM88 · #3 03/01/2007, 07:23 PM

Sorry I forgot to mention I would be getting a dwarf lionfish, I know 50gallons is too small for a larger species of lionfish

Can you offer any suggestions as to what sort of species of fish could be kept with a dwarf lionfish? Could clownfish be kept with them or would they be viewed as food?

mrferrit · #4 03/01/2007, 07:29 PM

not too sure but maby try reading this it might help ya out
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

JRM88 · #5 03/01/2007, 07:37 PM

Thanks

I've read it already though. If anybody could suggest some tankmates that could live their whole life in a 50 gallon and wouldnt be eaten by a lionfish that'd be good

FMarini · #6 03/01/2007, 08:00 PM

an equal sized lionfish.....

xxseawolf · #7 03/01/2007, 09:50 PM

how about a large tang(jk tang police), but seriously ive had one with a marine beta, maybe a dwarf angel?

JRM88 · #8 03/01/2007, 10:00 PM

I really like the flame angel's, anyone else know if they would be ok with a dwarf lionfish?

xxseawolf · #9 03/01/2007, 10:24 PM

yes it would(if the flame is not too small-lol). as long as the flame is larger than the mouth of the lion.

xxseawolf · #10 03/01/2007, 10:25 PM

make sure you give the flame some rock. they are shy and like to hide

JRM88 · #11 03/01/2007, 10:36 PM

Thanks

I'm planning to put liverock in so the flame angel will have somewhere to go, if I got clownfish and they were quite big, do you think they would be ok or no?

xxseawolf · #12 03/01/2007, 10:57 PM

first of all do yo already have the lion? if not choose your clown and when it is large enough then insert the dwarf lion. i personally have a maroon in my more aggressive tank. if you already have a dwarf lion make sure you get a clown at least 2" long. i bought my gold striped marron at about 2-1/2". good luck.

JRM88 · #13 03/01/2007, 11:14 PM

I dont have anything yet, I just wanted to decide if I am going to get a lionfish because if I am I am going to get the larger 50 gallon instead of 40 gallon. I think I will get the 50 gallon, get a pair of maroon clowns (are there any other large clowns?) and then put the dwarf lion in

Basically, any fish 2.5"-3" and above should be fine?

ThomasinKind · #14 03/02/2007, 09:11 AM

You could do a dwarf lion and a snowflake eel in a 50 gallon. Make absolute certain that you get the "correct" dwarf lion (I see them mis-labled all the time at LFS). Without going larger, you're very limited with respect to appropriate tankmates. I wouldn't put any dwarf angel with any lion (dwarf or otherwise). I saw a dwarf lion eat a longnose butterfly that was almost the same size at a LFS.

xhaust50 · #15 03/02/2007, 02:03 PM

I have a dwarf zebra lion in with a Green Spotted Puffer and a Flame Angel in a 55G. No problems whatsoever. The Lion was the last addition, and smallest, but he is probably the biggest right now as they grow pretty fast. A full-size clown will be fine as well. I am most likely going to transfer the flame angel to my colorful 45G and add a different dwarf puffer.

Monkeyfish · #16 03/02/2007, 02:23 PM

A snow flake eel will outgrow a 50g tank and they are rather messy creatures - detrimental to the water quality in a tank that size. You could keep a small one for awhile, but you'll need to find it a new home eventually.

JRM88 · #17 03/02/2007, 06:05 PM

Thanks for the advice, I think I might just skip on the lionfish, I really want one but I also want smaller colourful fish which obviously the two cannot be put together.

Ulric · #18 03/05/2007, 03:49 PM

At one time I had 1 Clarkii, 1 Snowflake eel, 1 Fuzzy Dwarf, 1 Zebra dwarf, Lawnmower blenny and 6 Mollies in a tank.

I had shutdown my 30gal, which was used as a rough 'breeder' tank for the mollies, hoping they would serve as a..healther food source for the fuzzy that I was having problems getting to go over to non-live food.

While the lions, would...watch the mollies, they never went after any of them. I think it was more execption to the rule though.