Lionfish in a reef tank??

[bialy]

Hello all,
I was wondering if a lionfish could live in a reef tank. I have a 70g tank with two full grown clowns and 4 h. barbouri (giant morph) Seahorses. The seahorses are only temporary in this tank as my other is finishing cylcling (though they have done great in a reef tank). I have done a TON of research and know that any inhabitant that is smaller than their mouth will get eaten so advice on species is appreciated. I was thinking about getting a fuzzy or a Mombasa . I have a mixed reef which has a green/purple hammer, frogspawn, torch, zoanthid, 1 blasto colony (on an individual rock), a sponge, 2 small bubble tips, and some rics. I have a large cave in the middle of my tank so the lion could have shade (I also have one in the corner). I also have a medium/lowish flow and medium lighting overall. I only have one shrimp which i would get rid of, a serpent star, and 3 LARGE turbo snails. The one down side to my tank is that it is about 2.5 feet tall and only 2 feet long and 2.5 feet back. I was more worried about the lion stinging my corals.
Any help/experience is appreciated and any advice for tank mates and species of lion would help too.

 

[Dmorty217]

A dwarf lion can be housed in a reef providing the fish are much bigger than the lionfish mouth, shrimp and CUC included. Lower flow is critical otherwise the lion will purch in a low flow corner or rock and not move. As far as stinging coral, you have nothing to be worried about

 

[bialy]

Thank you. Any specific tank mates you can recommend?

 

[Fishy 1]

A dwarf lion can be housed in a reef providing the fish are much bigger than the lionfish mouth, shrimp and CUC included. Lower flow is critical otherwise the lion will purch in a low flow corner or rock and not move. As far as stinging coral, you have nothing to be worried about

Nailed it +1

 

[zabes]

that tank is small for a mombasa. could do any of the dwarf species though like a fu, fuzzy, zebra, etc. i currently have a fu that is about 4" and a mombassa that is around 5-6" with a couple chromis, adult bengaii, six line, and a ribbon eel currently. have zero issues though mine are all converted to frozen

 

[bialy]

I was thinking of getting an ambon toby puffer and 2-3 wrasse. Would that work? I heard toby's may or may not be reef safe, so i would hope it would be reef safe. Any advice?

 

[zabes]

would not go with any puffer. known fin nippers and the lion would likely get picked on

 

[bialy]

what about a commerson's angler? or are there any small triggers?

 

[eatbreakfast]

I wouldnt do triggers either, as they are also fin nippers.

Try tankmates with significant body depth, not torpedo shaped. A lion fish is able to eat anything the size of its body minus fins.

With a dwarf lion I would consider dwarf angels or soldierfish,.

 

[Dmorty217]

what about a commerson's angler? or are there any small triggers?

Your problem is your fish choice and tank size. Lionfish are usually housed well with a groupers, eels, certain triggers that are on the less aggressive side (blue throat, niger, crosshatch, sargassum) puffers, and other fish that get far too large for a 70g. You need to think more peaceful small fish that aren't prone to eating other whole

 

[bialy]

ok thanks.