Considering a Lionfish

I am considering starting a new reef tank for a Lionfish. I have read that lionfish will eat anything that will fit in its mouth. So I ask the following questions to those who have lionfish.

I know that I cant keep any shrimp (cleaner, Red, Peppermint) in the tank but what about hermit crabs, snails, and other cleaning crew inhabitants?

How does one maintain a reef without a cleaning crew?

 

They will go after hermits and snails too. They may end up spitting them out since they can't digest the shells, but will hurt themselves in doing so. I lost one volitans due to that and went against any CUC in that tank. I just run my skimmer hard and do manual removal of waste when needed.

 

Did you keep any other fish with it. I find conflicking reports that grouper are ok and then that grouper will tend to nip at the lion same with triggers.

 

There's a good article on ReefKeeping.com, here's the link: The Lionfish Info Sheet: Captive Care and Home Husbandry by Frank Marini, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com

 

how big of tank and what type of lionfish?

 

Yes I read it yesterday, and it is a great article. But it doesn't specifically say anything about cuc. This article also says that dawrf fuzzies will tend to beg for food which I thought was pretty cool, and that the draft loinfish were just as hardy, yet my lfs told me today that he has had problems with dwarfs and doesn't bring them in anymore. Just wondering if would rather sell the $40.00 vs the $20.00.

 

I was considering dwarf fuzzy. Tank is a 29gal with 20lbs LR, 40lbs ls.

 

A dwarf will still outgrow that tank. However he will be ok in it for a while.