Lionfish landed in my lap....

[2reefnutz]

Ok, so me and hubby went to get some tanks from a guy for our possible future baby clowns, and he had a lionfish that he asked us to take because he knew it was going to die on him. A friend gave it to him because triggers were attacking it badly. So the lionfish (who I have named Charlie) was in a rubbermaid container, no heat, seemed to be gasping at the surface and the guy said he hadn't eaten in a week. We got Charlie home and acclimated him in our 75g frag sump for about three hours (the salinty and temps were so far apart). He seems to look better already and is swimming but he will not eat frozen food. I am waiting for my LFS to see if they can find him a long term home once I get him back to health, but here is my question. Would a molly from Wal-Mart be ok to try and feed him? If we set up a empty 90g with cured liverock and water from our display tank would that be ok to put him in? The sump was just as an emergency. My knowledge on Lionfish is NADA :uhoh2:....so any and all suggestions are welcome.

 

[tetero]

Molys are ok if you can't get any better at first, but on the long run they won't provide enough fat, which is required for saltwater fish (carnivorous that is :spin2. Try to start with molys, if possible put the molys in with a stick of net. Then try to get him to associate that with food (the net), later on you could fool him with some more appropriate frozen treat.

A 90 gallon would be fine, they are not very active. I have seen worst setups and the fish still look pretty healthy.

Good luck!

Ed

 

[nateqt]

when I clicked on this post I was hoping to read a story about how your lionfish jumped out of the tank and literally into your lap :[

 

[namxas]

How big is the lion? Is it a volitans?

As mentioned, appropriately-sized mollies are fine, as are guppies and ghost shrimp. You'll want to get the fish eating and conditioned (I'd say 2-4 weeks, depending on the fish) before starting the weaning process. Don't overfeed the fish tho...3 times a week is fine. Lions can go a long time without eating, so don't worry that it hasn't eaten in a few days.

When you do decide to start weaning the fish, I strongly recommend using the "super stealth stick" mentioned in our article Tools of the Trade: Equipment and Techniques to Convert Your Fish to Frozen . We use that stick exclusively, even for our full-grown P. volitans.

 

[albano]

As mentioned, appropriately-sized mollies are fine, as are guppies and ghost shrimp.

+1...I've heard not to use 'feeder goldfish', because they have a 'bone' in them that the lion cannot digest...

 

[2reefnutz]

I'm glad he wasn't actually in my lap...ouch! Thanks for the help on the feeding...I'm getting ready to head to the store and get a feeder for him. Not sure if he is a volitans, he is more black than the pictures I've seen online (not the red/brown color). The guy called him a black fin.... I will get a picture of him when I get back....hopefully that will help on the info too. Also he keeps swimming in a circle?? I thought these guys just tend to be still in the tank??

 

[sacremon]

+1...I've heard not to use 'feeder goldfish', because they have a 'bone' in them that the lion cannot digest...

That bone would be their skulls, which are large enough to block the intestines of a lionfish. They also are too fatty, don't have the right nutrients and I believe have thiaminase, which will harm the lionfish over time if they are the sole food item.

 

[namxas]

Thiaminase actually inactivates Thiamine, and over time, this leads to CNS disorders and an early death.

 

[2reefnutz]

Well he won't eat the molly either??

 

[Mikesville510]

I'm strangely disappointed that a lionfish didn't actually jump out of a tank and into someone's lap! hmpH! All kidding aside, hope he finds a good home. Sounds like he's been on quite an adventure in the last few days. I would wait it out a little more until he gets more comfortable and acclimated to his new surroundings.

 

[ashtree68]

If you post pictures then it'll be ID'ed very quickly. How long have you had him? Could just not be eating due to stress from the previous tank/the move/etc.

 

[2reefnutz]

I will keep trying, as you can see from the pic he looks rough. Those triggers tore him up bad. He looked at the fish for one sec like he wanted to eat it...then turned and went away. We tried the net, the molly was even touching his mouth...and he just backed away from it.

 

[namxas]

Yikes...if your friend means BLACKfoot or blueFIN (maybe he's mixing two common names), then the fish may be Parapterois heterura, which is a temperate species. This fish must, Must, MUST be kept cool. We keep ours at 63*F max, and it does OK there.

These fish are touchy at best, and at warmer temps tend to develop raging bacterial infections (I've seen a specimen's face literally melt off pretty much overnight). As far as feeding is concerned, bluefins are a little sketchy, and tend to be weak strikers.

Is this the fish?

Argh...I can't find the "money shot" we have of this fish that shows the bright blue markings behind its pectorals, but there should be some neon blue "dashed squiggles" on the back side of its pectorals.

Or, you can always post a pic for ID.

 

[albano]

I will keep trying, as you can see from the pic he looks rough. Those triggers tore him up bad.

looks like a black Volitan

 

[namxas]

Yes, it does look like a dark phase volitans...the OP posted before I finished my previous post (I spent some time looking for photos).

If it was housed with triggers, the triggers beat the snot outta the poor lion. Watch for signs of bacterial infection in the damaged areas.

 

[2reefnutz]

I hope no infections....he's in the frag sump.....too many goodies up top. The molly disappeared??? Maybe he ate it afterall...I sure hope so....keep you all posted. I wish you all were closer... maybe one of you could be his forever home

 

[Wolverine]

when I clicked on this post I was hoping to read a story about how your lionfish jumped out of the tank and literally into your lap :[

That was my thought as well.

 

[namxas]

FWIW, I'd like to say that this is the 3rd lionfish I've heard about in the past couple of days that has been beaten up or killed outright by either a trigger or large angel. The other two lionfish died from their encounter.

 

[2reefnutz]

I have ran across alot of old articles saying triggers are good tank mates for the lionfish, there is some bad info out there....hopefully more people will find forums like this "before" getting bad tank mates for their fish.

 

[MrTuskfish]

How big is the lion? Is it a volitans?

As mentioned, appropriately-sized mollies are fine, as are guppies and ghost shrimp. You'll want to get the fish eating and conditioned (I'd say 2-4 weeks, depending on the fish) before starting the weaning process. Don't overfeed the fish tho...3 times a week is fine. Lions can go a long time without eating, so don't worry that it hasn't eaten in a few days.

When you do decide to start weaning the fish, I strongly recommend using the "super stealth stick" mentioned in our article Tools of the Trade: Equipment and Techniques to Convert Your Fish to Frozen . We use that stick exclusively, even for our full-grown P. volitans.

Thanks! There is a common myth that says a few guppies, mollies, etc., (to help induce feeding) are going to instantly kill lionfish.