Mantis and lion fish

[psychodave]

Ive got a quick question....In a 30 gallon reef tank can I have a mantis shrimp (basher) and a Fu Manchu lion fish (twinspot lion fish, dendrochirus biocellatus)?

The book I have says the lion fish needs a minium tank size of 20 gal.


Thanks in advance for the answer

 

[psychodave]

no one knows, eh?

 

[Thurge]

My N.wennera sisn't like having a Lion as a house mate.
We dinned on fish together the day after I tried that combo.

 

[rwhhunt]

I have never done it, bu I believe that uriel has.... my wenneras kinda a wuss, doesnt bother the lil firefish he lives with, in fact many times, they share the same burrow....

 

[psychodave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7103104#post7103104 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Thurge
My N.wennera sisn't like having a Lion as a house mate.
We dinned on fish together the day after I tried that combo.

Oh no, that sucks...thanks for the info, I appreciate it

 

[psychodave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7104815#post7104815 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rwhhunt
I have never done it, bu I believe that uriel has.... my wenneras kinda a wuss, doesnt bother the lil firefish he lives with, in fact many times, they share the same burrow....

Cool, so were 50/50 on co-existance...thank you for the reply, i really appreciate it!

 

[mickey85]

I've got a G. PLatysoma that is housed with a bicolor pseudochromis and a golf-ball sized sponge crab, and he hasn't touched either one.

 

[Uriel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7104815#post7104815 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rwhhunt
I have never done it, bu I believe that uriel has....

Nope, not lin and mantis. I have a damsel in with each of my Peacocks,however(Yellow with one, Domino with the other).

No problems, and the yellow one even plays wingman, nipping at the feeder crabs, and herding them towards the mantis. Seems that slylie had a cardinal that did the same thing last year.


-Ron

 

[psychodave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7107226#post7107226 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Uriel
Nope, not lin and mantis. I have a damsel in with each of my Peacocks,however(Yellow with one, Domino with the other).

No problems, and the yellow one even plays wingman, nipping at the feeder crabs, and herding them towards the mantis. Seems that slylie had a cardinal that did the same thing last year.


-Ron

LOL! Thats awesome!!! Id love to see that damsel in action! hehehe


So what do you guys think, a 4 inch fu manchu lion fish and a 4-5 inch mantis? Seems like its a possiblility...

Thank you for the responce I really appreciate it!

 

[DensityMan]

Lion fish eat shrimp and fish. I imagine it will end badly for the lion, the mantis or both... /shrug

 

[psychodave]

Even if the animals are the same size? Dang, thats what i was thinking but hopeing not to hear. I havent heard any success with lions, just damsels and smaller fish...oh well

 

[DensityMan]

Lionfish are not the smartest creatures in the animal kingdom by any stretch. They will try to consume anything they can fit in their mouths (and their mouths are far larger than their brains). Likewise the mantis won't necessarily consider the lion to be food, but will defend itself when attacked/investigated too closely.

I've never kept the two together, but I have witnessed many times the behavior of both.

 

[psychodave]

Cool, I really appreciate the info! I dont suppose ill be getting the Fu Manchu then. Id really like one, but im not putting any agressive fish in my 110gal...i like my clowns to much and the rest of the critters in there...except for that stupid yellow tailed damsel...welp, perhaps i wont put any fish in there...reef tanks seem to do the best when they are just corals anyway. It would probably be eaiser to keep the water perameters in check with out the fish in there.

Anain, thank you, i really appreciate the info!!

 

[Thurge]

3" N.wennera 1
6" Fuzzy Dwarf Lion 0

Game, Set, Match to the little Mantis

 

[psychodave]

wow, these little guys never cease to amaze me! Ok, no lion fish it is!