Choosing a lionfish

Im setting up a 55g and would like a snowflake eel and a lionfish. I am having a tough time deciding on which type of lion to get. I know volitans get way too large, and the fu manchu can be pretty difficult to convert to frozen. So I have narrowed it down to either the fuzzy dwarf (Dendrochirus brachypterus), zebra dwarf (Dendrochirus zebra), the Antennata (Pterois antennata) or the Mombasa (pterois mombasae). If I am leaving out any good contestants please let me know. I'm looking for an active lionfish that is not too difficult to convert to frozen and will be fine in a 55 gallon.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D;D;D;D;D

 

Personally, I think that whatever the species, a 55 is too small for a lionfish.

 

the antennatta still get fairly large that a 55 would be too small. I have a black volitan and hes huge, bout 8-9 inches in length and about 16 inches in width when taking into consideration his fins, a lion fish likes to move unobstructed so any species with longer antenna would be a no in a tank with that width.

A smaller species like you mentioned the mombosa or a dwarf species would be ok. they stay on the smaller side and have much shorter antenna. What are its tank mates? dwarf and smaller lions are still carnivores and can consume any fish it can fit in its mouth like clowns or such.

 

Any of those four will be fine in a 55g. Personally, I like the Dwarf Zebra.

Lionfish

 

Dont support the problem! Lionfish are taking over the Gulf and Atlantic oceans. Stop buying this fish people and start being more responsible reefers! Nothing can eat these fish, and so when they get too large for most tanks people either bring them back to the LFS or just let them free in the ocean where they eat native species. If you aren't aware of this problem please do some research before you buy one just because that's what you want.

Please!

 

If a 6" lionfish is too large for a 55g tank, there's almost nothing you can put in a 20. Follow the link I provided and research the 4 aforementioned species.

 

I don't think buying them is making that problem any worse. The breeding population thats not native to the gulf is reproducing much faster than we can put them in. That problem is already done. I also think it a little odd to assume any lion is destined to be released into the wild. Most places in the country don't even have that option.

As far as the topic at hand. You should look at a radiata. They stay pretty small and are not as hard to keep as fu manchus.

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i know buying them isnt the primary problem, but the demand in trade is due to people wanting a fish that "looks cool" -- i dono this is just my opinion, personally i would try to acquire more rare species rather than ones that are causing problems due to the trade demand

 

Right now the tank mates are just a snowflake eel. In the future I may put in something else. Maybe

Thanks me too, they are just so hard to find.

I am very aware of the problem at hand and I cannot prevent others from being irresponsible but I would never release a captive animal back into nature especial a non native species.

The volitan is the one that gets so big and is taking over the Florida reefs. I would consider the fuzzy dwarf to be pretty rare because I have been on the waiting list for a month for a fuzzy dwarf at my LFS (and I work there!!! lol) and still cant get one in. Thus the reason for this post because I really wanted a fuzzy dwarf but If I am not able to find one in stock I would like to know the next best. But thank you for you concern.

 

That sounds pretty cute lol and I'm not debating that a snowflake eel and a lion fish wouldn't be awesome to watch and have in a tank. I just feel like the overall demand for these fish are what causes the problem. Fish shops buy bulk, they can't sell them all, don't want to feel bad for flushing them, so they release them being idiots unaware nothing can kill this fish and it eats anything it can fit in its mouth! We should all go on a diving expedition to the Gulf and spear these suckers out of complete existence [in the Gulf that is]