Lionfish question

[kaiboshi]

I picked up an antennata lion off of DD last week. No real problems per say with the lion, he's small but eating ghost shrimp like a champ. When he grows a bit I was planning to ween him.

My question is regarding the "horns" that some lionfish have. I mean the protrusions above their eyes. One of the reasons I picked up this particular lion was because it's "horns" were off the chain and it made him look totally badass.

I was a bit apprehensive about the "horns" surviving shipping because I didn't think they were a bony or cartiledge appendage or anything. Much to my delight the "horns" survived shipping. After a successful acclimation I left the lion in the dark until the next morning.

I turn the lights on to check on the lion and his "horns" are gone. I guess they got damaged in shipping after all? So my actual question is "do the horns grow back"?

 

[Fibinotchi]

Do you by chance have a trigger in your tank? Be honest.

 

[kaiboshi]

Do you by chance have a trigger in your tank? Be honest.

I forgot to mention he's in QT right now and he's alone.

I have read about mixing lions and triggers and how the triggers pick apart the lions. As such, I have no plans of attempting it in the future.

 

[Fibinotchi]

Well, I have never had any of my lions lose them before so I couldn't answer that question. Sorry, might just have to wait and see.

 

[namxas]

IME, it may, or it may not regrow them. I've had lions that lost and regrew their supraorbital appedages a few times, and some that lost them never to regrow them.

Frank Marini (FMarini) might have some additional insight on this.