new Lion Fish

Hey a friend of mine was moving and he gave me his Lion fish, it's a big sucker about 4 inches long. I am currently moving my smaller fish to another (smaller) tank. I was wondering do you think this guy will eat frozen fish or do I have to buy live? I am attaching a picture of Sebastian (that's what my wife calls him now).My video camera does a good job from a distance but up close really tends to pick up mostly the attnic light but you can still see him clearly- I would appreciate your input-

 

At 4 inches he is small, they get over a foot. And they grow very fast. It is best to get them to eat frozen food like siliversides. If he is stuck on live food it may take a few days but he will take it in time.

 

Mine takes shrimp, silversides...feeder fish.

 

OMG, and here all this time I thought Lions were not reef safe. That was about the only thing keeping me from getting one. What about their compatibility with other fish? Like a clown, tang, and basslet? ;D According to liveaquaria.com they are not compatible, except for with the tang... :-/ Any other thoughts on this?

 

They are not considered compatible because they will eat anything that they can fit in their mouths. If they can't eat it, they will most likely get along with it.

 

I caught one once about 6 yrs ago in N.C while fishing and it was about 8 inches. I'd guess they would get to a 12in length if it was a large enough tank ?? I have never seen a tank raised one get much over 6 to maybe the size of the one I hooked . That one took a live bait I had bouncing along the bottom while Lure fishing for Cobia.. The bait was about as large as the Pterois volitans was..
As for their real size ??? largest on average is about 12 to 15 inches thats with perfect conditions and ocean wild .. They are becoming a real problem in the waters off of South east Va and along N.C outer banks many are roaming at large now its assumed they where released by aquarium hobbyist But they are doing very well there.

 

My thoughts are LOL it's your tank and I'd never put one in there.. They have a very large mouth and like to eat often.. I'd listen the Dr's Smith and Foster they have it correct..They are not a communtiy friendly fish. Now thats my opinion..

 

It is a gamble on what you do. I kept one for almost 10 years and it grew upt to 14 ". He was in the same tank as a 4 " basslet and two cleaner shrinmp and other aniamls and was often cleaned by the cleaners. He never bothered anybody. Often if they are put in last things go better, but it is till a gamble. You are on your own here. Pretend you go out and buy a pair of Picasso clowns @ $400 and he has them for lunch

 

Lion fish as metioned above get very large and in so doing, deficate alot and often causing water quality issues, thus the notion that they are NOT reef safe IMO!
You probably won't want a fish that grows that big in your reef tank but I could be wrong. The basslet and possibly your Clowns, if too small, will end up getting eaten eventually as well.

 

you could get a dwarf lion. they stay smaller, but still look about like the bigger ones. i dont think it could fit your fish in its mouth, but just a thought.

birchell