Dwarf Lion Fish

Are you certain that what you saw wasn't merely a cast-off cuticle? Hermits do shed their cuticles as they grow, and they look a LOT like a dead hermit. If you give it a sniff, you'll know immediately...the cuticle won't smell rotten.

 

I took it out of the tank. It was the hermit and its shell was empty/.

 

Normal behavior? He is sitting on the live rock in an area of high flow. Do they like the high flow? hes done it a few times today

 

Your lion may be getting ready to shed its cuticle. Some specimens will sit/hover in a high flow area, facing the current, which aids them in loosening the cuticle. You may also see it doing some weird mouth/face contortions to loosen the cuticle from its head.

When the fish sheds, it will typically do a series of short "darts" around the tank, and you'll see a diaphanous, ghostly "film" in the tank afterward. You can check our lionfish care guide for photos and a short video showing cuticle shedding.

 

Also have you ever seen a dwarf eat flakes? Mine has been eating flakes along with all the other food I feed him.

 

Yep, it's not uncommon...a weaned lionfish will pretty much eat anything it recognizes as food.

 

Ok good now. Also I have been looking on your website a lot. The hitchhiker guide is very helpful!!