dwarf lionfish tank?

so it is hte third from last segment that is the cuadal peduncle? ok i get it now. thatll be easy to see than i thought. thanks. ant BTW nice specimen.

 

It's actually the area that narrows on the fishes body to which the tailfin is attached. Don't go by the markings... they could be slightly different on every fish.

 

You also go by the number of fins on the pectoral fins.

Females 4-6. Males greater than 6. That's where ya can get into trouble though, if the fish has exactly six.

Female:



Male:



Males also have larger heads, but that doesn't really show until they are mature. My male isn't big enough yet to show that easily.

 

ok so were the fin attaches to the body is the cuadal. right? thats prob the best way for me to do the sexing for them.

 

It's that whole area there that goes in on the body. I'll sneak up on the male tomorrow morning.

When they are very young, they are can be hard to sex.

It good to look at all the different things....

Long fins... check.
More than 6 stripes on pectorals.... check.
Big head... check. It's a male.

That kind of thing...

 

oh ok. the first time i get one ill just buy it (first fish, no aggression) as long as its eating, then sex it when its at home a settled in more.

btw, does the fishing line method work well on finicky eaters? if so should i buy a dwarf lion even if its not on frozen at the LFS?

 

Oh definitely buy even if he's not eating frozen. Some you have to work with a bit. Some never go to frozen foods though. Albeit, a dwarf is pretty easy next to some if you work hard at it.

I don't make mine eat at the store, but make sure yours will take a little live shrimp. If he already ate that day, he may be a little hesitant. But watch the preds at the store... after awhile you'll know who is interested in food and who you should pass on.

The shrimp method further down works the best. No fish has beat me yet with it....

 

yea thats what i was talkin about. the tail of fishin line then with the dead shrimp on the end. ok, ill buy a dwarf lion as long as its eating live. should i get the lion first so i have something to look at in the tank, or upgrade my lights and get the macro first id like the lion personally but im not sure. the cycle is over and has been for a few days.

ph-8.3
ammonia-zip, zero, nada, 0
nitrite-not a thing, 0
nitrate-60 (i have 11 mangroves, gracilaria, and chaeto workng on that, it was 80 on sunday.)

so what should i do? fish, or lights first?

 

Have you done an ammonia challenge yet?

 

ammonia challenge? no, but i have gone through two cycles so far. on without rock and one with.