Help with Maroon Clown/Lion fish.

[Gregs138]

Currently running a still rather new (4 weeks past first cycle) 125 gallon FOWLR + 20 gal sump.

Currently have 5 chromies.
1 Wrasse 6"
foxface rabbit 7-8"
CUC(mostly snails).


I am aiming to get a yellow stripe maroon clown and a Volatin Lion fish eventually. I think I will add the maroon clown in about a month once I am sure my current bio load is fine and once I am done focusing on green algea. After that would like to add the lionfish.

I am hoping that a full grown maroon will be able to handle the lionfish(especially if hes not full grown). Any thoughts on this combo?

Also, I have read that both of these fish have barbs/spikes and should never be netted. Soooo, how do you recommend moving/catching them?

Thank you.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Awhile back, I had the biggest MC I'd ever seen and a large, adult Volitan. I commented, on this forum, that he was lionfish-safe. Another RC member said he had a lion that would eat my clown. A few days later, my lion ate the clown, I only witnessed the tip of the tail stinking out of the lions mouth. Volitans are incredibly fast growing. Of course, your chromis are lunch.

I have a few acrylic & tupperware containers that I use to catch most fish.

 

[hobbzz]

I'd have to agree. You'd have six fish that the lion would eventually eat.

 

[Gregs138]

Yeah the Chromies will go to my neighbor. But I am glad I asked about the Clown. I definitely am more focused on getting the lionfish as that is what I want as one of my "main" fish. Too bad it's a no go on the Clown.

 

[hobbzz]

You might want to wait for some more responses. The last time I had a loinfish was about 10 years ago, but like Mr. Tusk said, they do grow very quickly. I think the likelyhood of the lion growing faster than the rest of the fish, fast enough that it would be able to eat them, would be a concern. Locally I never see small lions available at the 4 lfs in town. They're always at least 3-4 inches already, so I'm not sure how likely it is that you could find a real small one.

 

[namxas]

After lots of trial and error and experimentation with moving scorps, I can tell you that we use soft, box-bottomed nets to move these fish, and I've never had one get caught. The soft-weave doesn't catch their spines, and the flat bottom doesn't close up around the fish. Taam's is one company that makes them (they're white nets w/wooden handles). There are also some black ones out there.

That being said, I've had to cut a few fish out of "normal" nets, and it's no fun dodging their spines. BTW, it's their opercular spines that get caught, not the dorsal spines.

You could go with a medium-bodied lionfish that will allow you to keep the clownfish, and possibly the wrasse (you didn't mention which wrasse you have). The mediums are Pterois radiata, P. antennata, P. mombassae (great fish, BTW), and P. sphex (rare, but very nice as well). Of the four, P. antennata has the largest mouth. Also note that the antennata and Mombasa lions are frequently confused with each other.

HTH

 

[viggen]

Anything that can fit in the lions mouth will be food..... They grow fast and also quite large, a for or so long in a short period of time.

No way I would put a clown in with a lion or any other small fish. If you can find a xl+ clown, 4+ inches long that should work but not the standard size you find.

Lions are also pretty boring fish, I have owned a few of them over the years. They just lay around and get big. They get at least 1 foot square when close to fully grown

 

[hobbzz]

Radiata are beautiful. My personal favorite.

 

[Gregs138]

Some great points thanks guys. Yeah radiata is another option that I have thought about. The Volatin lion I know will tax my filter and everyone has described it as nothing less than a poop machine.


The wrasse is a Sixbar/Hardewick's Wrasse which is already about 6 inches so I am assuming its pretty mature(they supposedly get up to 7 or 8"). So it's probably not disimlar than the fullgrown clown as far as being a menu item according to you guys.

The radiata is sounding like a good trade off. I want a lion but not necessarily something that is going to define so narrowly what else I can keep in the tank.

 

[Gregs138]

Anything that can fit in the lions mouth will be food..... They grow fast and also quite large, a for or so long in a short period of time.

No way I would put a clown in with a lion or any other small fish. If you can find a xl+ clown, 4+ inches long that should work but not the standard size you find.

Lions are also pretty boring fish, I have owned a few of them over the years. They just lay around and get big. They get at least 1 foot square when close to fully grown

Specifically looking at a fullgrown(or close) Yellow/stripe maroon clown.