Mombassa lion tank minimum?

[Deleted member 336650]

Who keeps a Mombassa lionfish (Pterois mombasae) or a Hawaiian dwarf (Dendrochirus barberi) and what size tank do you use?

I have a 30 gallon that I'd like to use with a lion as the only fish.

This article - http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-11/fm/feature/ - states 55 gal as the minimum for Mombassa. The dwarf species that reach the same size are recommended for a 30 gal minimum. Some sites have 40-55 gal minimum for the dwarf species. What gives?

 

[jraker]

IMO 30 gallons is too small for any lionfish.

 

[cougareyes]

I kept a fuzzy and a fu man chu in a 30 for almost 2 years, just make sure you do a good skimmer; I used a eshopps 75 gal HOB. I now have them in a 90 with an antennata and a zebra. They don't need that much room, they perch alot, are active when they are hunger and hunting. I only went larger because I wanted to add the other 2, the 30 will be fine.

 

[BigBlueTang]

I kept a fuzzy and a fu man chu in a 30 for almost 2 years, just make sure you do a good skimmer; I used a eshopps 75 gal HOB. I now have them in a 90 with an antennata and a zebra. They don't need that much room, they perch alot, are active when they are hunger and hunting. I only went larger because I wanted to add the other 2, the 30 will be fine.

I agree. Good advice.

 

[Deleted member 336650]

Thanks jraker, cougareyes, & BigBlueTang.

Jraker, have you had problems with a lion in that size tank?

cougareyes, how much live rock did you have in your 30gal?

 

[cougareyes]

I'd say close to 30 lbs, they like caves and also like to hang vertically. They can get pretty active after lights out so keep a top on it, I have screen tops, my fuzzy jumped twice; luckily landed in the overflow. I've been doing tanks for over 25 years, I'd had quite a few, my lion tank is the funnest tank I've ever had.

 

[Deleted member 336650]

Looks great. Thanks for the info.