Lionfish

So I want to add a lionfish... I have a black clownfish, green chromis, & a hoevens wrasse... I know they say chromis & clownfish are not compatible with a lionfish.. I was hoping if I got a small baby lionfish it would be ok... I've heard they won't eat anything that's bigger than there mouth & I guess I'm hoping it would be ok... my friend has a cinnamon clown with his lionfish.. so I would like some opinions on this please... thank you!

 

I have not see a clown or chromis that would not fit in even the smallest of Lion fish's mouth. I would not risk it

 

I wouldn't do it. Lions grow extremely fast and so does their mouth

 

I realize they grow fast & mouths of too..& the chromis I'm not do worried about...I'm just thinking the 1 I can get is 1"-2" & my clownfish is 3"-4" so with regular feedings it would leave the clown alone & would get along like my buddies does..I know all fish are different & he might have got lucky... I just need a more exotic beautiful fish in my tank!!

 

You may have a chance with a dwarf lionfish. Not a medium or large though.

 

I kept a lionfish many years back with a maroon clown....I would say no to the chromis with the lion.....I kept it for quite some time and got it very tiny. I did eventually have to rehome it once it got too big and was able to eat bigger things plus it just needed more room. If you keep it well fed, they usually are pretty nonaggressive. Of course, the lionfish experts are on 3 reef and I'm sure can give you the most accurate advice.

 

all you are gonna end up with is a well fed lionfish, I have seen even the smallest lionfish feed of fish bigger then a clown/chromis... I would not suggest this choice.

 

No chance of this ending well for any of them but the lion lol

 

Cinnamon, Maroon, and Tomato Clowns are the three largest species and could be relatively safe with a smaller Lionfish. Smaller Clowns, such as Ocellaris and Percula, probably would not be so lucky.

 

I just had a "net buddy" tell me that her 2.5" fuzzy had her 1.5" platinum clown in its mouth and was about to swallow it. She somehow got the lion to drop the fish, but this is just a real-life lesson.

I've also had a couple of friends who have had adult female maroons (6.5") swallowed by their volitans. One lived a year with the clown with "no issues" until one day...

Finally, if you have established clowns, I'd be concerned with them beating up a new, smaller lionfish, esp. if they're breeding.

GENERALLY, you want tankmates to be at least about 3/4 the size of the lionfish (adjust upwards for thinner fish body types). However, even then, a hungry lionfish might try them out.

Even dime-sized lionfish have good-sized mouths:



Adult P. volitans: