Lionfish lovers thread

[james30ct]

Read through some of my threads, my current old crew is an 8 old year old fu manchu, and an antennata and zebra for 7 years. I've kept fuzzies for as long as 11 years.

Lion King's observations of keeping lions long term

As my research into how long lions are being kept alive in captivity disturbed and disappointed me, I decided to post a few of my observations that has allowed me to keep them for several years or more. Source; know your source, it is not a good idea to get any lion from a source that runs...

www.reef2reef.com

Search for my other threads for many tips and observations.

Thanks. I would definitely like to pick your brain when I get closer to buying my fish list. I will check out your threads

 

[OlderManSea]

Here is my new Pterois sphex collected in Hawaii two weeks ago by a friend who collects professionally. Total length is 4.5 inches. These images are from a few days ago, about 2 hours after I added it to a 40B containing a Rhinopias of the same size. When I started keeping marine tanks in the 70s I kept a number of different lionfish species but I havent had one in about 40 years. I couldnt pass up a red Rhinopias a few months ago and wanted to add another predator that swims more. This one fits the bill. It has become quite tame and follows me around - since I am the source of food. It eats voraciously. It so far takes only live food but I will use the Rhinopias to train it. The Rhino hasnt eaten anything live in about 3 months prior to getting this fish. The lionfish's preference is for guppy-sized fish, I generally feed saltwater mollies that I have cultured for many generations whereas the Rhinopias readily takes very large adult mollies (and small guppy-sized ones). They get along food-wise since the lion chases down the small prey far more quickly than the Rhinopias (who only gives the smaller fish a half-hearted effort. The Rhinopias is like lightning for the large prey whereas the lion ignores large prey. I will stop with the large live prey for the Rhinopias tomorrow and go back to frozen and see how long it takes the lion to go after small chunks. I recall those I had in the past were easily trained to take nonliving foods. The lion and Rhino have become good "friends." Each rests at night opposite ends of the tank but during the day they move around together most of the time, with the lion hovering a couple of inches above the Rhino. If the lion moves, the Rhino follows, and vice versa. I guess they associate one another with food showing up.

I am in the process of cycling a 90 gallon tank for these fish. I have an angler that I would like to put with them but I am waiting for it to get a bit larger.

 

[lion king]

Menacing

 

[SaltFishTV]

My boy, Spike

 

[OlderManSea]

My boy, Spike
View attachment 1938298

Spike is a cool dude!

 

[SaltFishTV]

Spike is a cool dude!

I agree! Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here is my new Pterois sphex collected in Hawaii two weeks ago by a friend who collects professionally. Total length is 4.5 inches. These images are from a few days ago, about 2 hours after I added it to a 40B containing a Rhinopias of the same size. When I started keeping marine tanks in the 70s I kept a number of different lionfish species but I havent had one in about 40 years. I couldnt pass up a red Rhinopias a few months ago and wanted to add another predator that swims more. This one fits the bill. It has become quite tame and follows me around - since I am the source of food. It eats voraciously. It so far takes only live food but I will use the Rhinopias to train it. The Rhino hasnt eaten anything live in about 3 months prior to getting this fish. The lionfish's preference is for guppy-sized fish, I generally feed saltwater mollies that I have cultured for many generations whereas the Rhinopias readily takes very large adult mollies (and small guppy-sized ones). They get along food-wise since the lion chases down the small prey far more quickly than the Rhinopias (who only gives the smaller fish a half-hearted effort. The Rhinopias is like lightning for the large prey whereas the lion ignores large prey. I will stop with the large live prey for the Rhinopias tomorrow and go back to frozen and see how long it takes the lion to go after small chunks. I recall those I had in the past were easily trained to take nonliving foods. The lion and Rhino have become good "friends." Each rests at night opposite ends of the tank but during the day they move around together most of the time, with the lion hovering a couple of inches above the Rhino. If the lion moves, the Rhino follows, and vice versa. I guess they associate one another with food showing up.
View attachment 1595254



View attachment 1595255
View attachment 1595256

I am in the process of cycling a 90 gallon tank for these fish. I have an angler that I would like to put with them but I am waiting for it to get a bit larger.

Reminds me so much of the radiata

 

[346700984]

Karen the zebra and Gobbles the fuzzy

 

[lion king]

Here's my current crew

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Found on IG

 

[346700984]

 

[346700984]

 

[jarrod13]

.

View attachment 1086630

Were you able to keep your P. heterura (bluefin) alive for long?

 

[lion king]

Were you able to keep your P. heterura (bluefin) alive for long?

I had him for a couple of years. His care is the same as the other lions and could have lived a long life. The problem was he came in really bad shape and I had to repeatedly treat for internal parasites and bacterial infections. Once I got him healthy he was a fantastic fish, very active with a great appetite. The problem was the meds reeked havoc on his liver, and eventually he had liver failure. I wouldn't be surprised if you find one in good condition he would live for 10 years.

 

[Colton.]

Is there a species of lionfish I can keep with H.come aka tigertail seahorses?

 

[AC1211]

Is there a species of lionfish I can keep with H.come aka tigertail seahorses?

I wouldn't even bother looking due to fear of them using lionfish spines as a hitching post. Even if they are not eaten the risk exists.

 

[reefinatl]

Great thread idea. I love lions, but love small fish a little more, so I don't have a pic to add currently, but I can live vicariously through the pics here.

Ancient post but I'm that guy. Thanks for this thread. Lions are the reason I got into this hobby. 13ish years later still don't own one.

 

[drukkosz]

 

[WVNed]

Baby Fuzzy under a mushroom

All three together

 

[346700984]

My Radiata