russels lion and cleaner wrasse

[Drklotus]

anyone know if i can put my bluesteak cleaner wrasse in my tank with my lionfish? need to break down 10g but i dont want to get rid of my cleaner. i think my yellow tang and singapore angel might like the wrasse but im not sure the lionfish will recognize it as a cleaner fish and not food. the wrasse is about 2 1/2 in and the lion is still kind of small about 4 1/2 in from mouth to tail. plz help

 

[namxas]

There's no way to know for sure. Is the lion weaned? This is important as your chances are better if the lion isn't being fed live feeders.

One thing you can do is put wrasse into a small "critter keeper" and put it into the tank. This way the lion can see it, but can't swallow it. You'll know pretty quickly if the lion is going to try to swallow the wrasse.

Providing the lion isn't going postal trying to get at the wrasse (don't let the lion bump its snout against the keeper as it can injure its mouth).

That's about as good a solution as I can come up with without coffee...

Do report back, one way or the other, as this may help someone in the future.

 

[FMarini]

i agree w/ greg- Its fish dependent. So it will be a 50/50 proposition.
I've seen established lions quickly munch down newly added cleaner shrimp and other lions not care, and use the shrimp as a cleaner.

 

[Drklotus]

ok well the lion is not weaned as of yet . he is on feeder guppies but im trying to graduate toward a diff diet. and the mini tank sounds like a great idea. ill make sure to post as soon as i learn something new

 

[Drklotus]

well for thiose who followed this. the cleaner died b4 i could but him in the tank.

 

[namxas]

Thanx for the folow-up...sorry the wrasse didn't make it.