red devilfish

[Megatrev62]

Hi, a fellow hobbyist just purchased this fish at about 4 inches. First fish to go into his 108 60 inch tank. The tank has been set up for 5 weeks using bio spira and mollies. Sump with bioballs is his filtration. No live rock and he will not be putting it in.Only has 2 pieces of rock(tuffa rock) in the tank. The fish went in ok and the store said it was eating mysis so he bought it.It's been in 4 days now and he's tried feeding it shrimp from grocery store.



Said it did take one feeding but has left shrimp on the tank floor in subsequent feedings. He said the fish eats it later? This I find interesting to say the least. I find it hard to believe from what I've read about lions. What do you think of this setup so far as he is going FO aggressive tank. I keep telling him to get live rock!!!! IMO I also feel the lion is sressed to the max in such a bare tank. He has metal halide lighting also!!!! Will the lion adjust to that lighting in time? Thanks

 

[Megatrev62]

Not enough info? too much?

 

[MCCOOL]

I'm not very familiar with lionfish, but I'd agree with you that it sounds stressed from a brightly lit, bare tank.

From what I've read, They don't always take to frozen food immediately, perhaps he should try some live foods until he can wean the fish onto frozen.

I'd also strongly agree that he needs to add live rock to the tank.

 

[Elysia]

Try the aggressive fish forum, perhaps.

 

[Monkeyfish]

Mysis shrimp are too small. Try feeding him krill or pieces of table shrimp or silversides. If he won't take them from the water column, put the food on a skewer and wiggle it a bit in front of him. I've never seen a lion (other than dwarfs) have difficulty taking to frozen. Also, these fish like to have a cave or overhang to hang out in/underneath. He's probably not too thrilled with the decor of his new home.

 

[Megatrev62]

Thanks folks. So frustrating when good, sound advice is ignored.

 

[namxas]

I wouldn't say that mysis are too small without knowing the size and species of the lion...our smaller lions get "supplemental" feedings of a mixture of Hikari mysis, PE mysis, and BS+ on their "no-stick" days. It's actually meant for the trio of H. borbonius, but they have no trouble eating it, and jump right in when it hits the water. A 4" lion wouldn't be too large, IMHO.

I do think that the LFS may have been stretching the truth about the lion taking frozen tho. Unless you witness it, it didn't happen. What species of lion do you have?