Starting a dwarf lionfish tank

[m0nkie]

Hi. I was able to score a really nice 60gal cube with sump. I'm thinking of turning it into a dwarf lionfish tank. I'm fairly new at this still. Specially toward more aggressive fish. I want this tank to have things I can't put in my 100gal DT.

I'm cycling 50lbs of rock right now.

ideal fish list: will this be ok?
-2 dwarf fuzzy
-2 antennata
-1 mombasse (would 2 be overstocking? this is my lesser favorite of the 3)
-1 maroon clown
-1 wrasse?

CUC: all hermits.

Can I keep a banded coral shrimp with the fish?

lastly, can I have SPS corals as few decorations? I was thinking a few pieces , but not sure about the high flow requirement.

thanks!

maybe one day I will switch them to my 100gal and add some real lionfish

 

[DoubleM 10]

IMO you might have issues with all the lions together.might not like each other.

also IMO again this is overstocked. If im not mistaken a 60g cube is 24*24*24. That means that all the fish are going to be in each others presents an awful lot. I would stay with 2 fuzzy lions. OR antennata. OR one maybe 2 Mombasse. not all of them in the same 60g cube tank. when u finally move them to the 100gal then purchase some of the others

ur banded shrimp might not make it being that lions eat shrimp.

yes some corals are ok.theses fish make "messes". the water will get dirty and some corals might not like that

HTH

 

[m0nkie]

thanks.. I didn't realize the dwarf lions can get up to 7" big.. but would really like to keep at least 2 different ones.

what about this:
- 1 Dwarf Fuzzy
- 1 Antennata
- 1 maroon clown

on lion aggression, most threads I've read say they should be ok as long as they can't eat each other. Fuzzy and Antennata are both 7" fish.. maybe if I get them together at the same size? think that might work?

if it's really not good. then i'll stick to 2 antennata, 2 maroon

 

[kw22]

thanks.. I didn't realize the dwarf lions can get up to 7" big.. but would really like to keep at least 2 different ones.

what about this:
- 1 Dwarf Fuzzy
- 1 Antennata
- 1 maroon clown

on lion aggression, most threads I've read say they should be ok as long as they can't eat each other. Fuzzy and Antennata are both 7" fish.. maybe if I get them together at the same size? think that might work?

if it's really not good. then i'll stick to 2 antennata, 2 maroon

I would recommend something like:

2 fuzzy dwarfs
1 fu manchu lion
and a maroon clownfish

 

[m0nkie]

what's the reason for keeping fuzzy with fu manchu but not an antennata?

is it because fumanchu and fuzzy are both Dendrochirus family? I prefer Antennata's look. It looks more like a Volitan than any other dwarf species. It'll keep me happy until I can get some real volitans in my 100gal.

a fu manchu grow up to 4".. a lot smaller than the fuzzy and antennata.. wouldn't that be more dangerous than keeping two 7"?

I would really prefer the antennata over fuzzy. even if it means getting only 2 antennata

thanks for the suggestion. I will need to read some more on Fu Manchu.

 

[DoubleM 10]

what's the reason for keeping fuzzy with fu manchu but not an antennata?

In my experience fuzzy lions will swim more and use the upper portions of the rock and tank. Fun man chus are bottom dwelling lions. They won't interfere with each other.

I have had both fish.

Also antennae lion are harder to wean to frozen and to tank life. Not a very high sucess rate. Good looking fish. Harder to keep. ( and nothing looks like a voltian lol I want one too)

And the same family thing I don't think has anything to do with it. The fuzzy and the fu don't look alike so I don't think they will bother each other. My fuzzy and fu ever came near each other unless incidental during feeding time. That's it. Peaceful quarters when they where in there.

Hth

 

[m0nkie]

I see. thanks for the explanations.

Looks like my list will be:

- 2 dwarf fuzzy (maybe 1 regular and 1 yellow)
- 1 fu manchu
- maroon (maybe a pair, can't decide yet)

i think this should be ok for a 60gal. probably another 15-20gal of sump water

1 thing in this hobby.. my tanks are never big enough.. thinking about upgrading the 100 to a 300.. better consider 500 now..

 

[zabes]

I see. thanks for the explanations.

Looks like my list will be:

- 2 dwarf fuzzy (maybe 1 regular and 1 yellow)
- 1 fu manchu
- maroon (maybe a pair, can't decide yet)

i think this should be ok for a 60gal. probably another 15-20gal of sump water

1 thing in this hobby.. my tanks are never big enough.. thinking about upgrading the 100 to a 300.. better consider 500 now..

just make sure that the fuzzy dwarfs are not both males. otherwise you will have fighting between them. antennata will get too large for a 60 gallon imo. keep the flow in tank down and the lions will be more active. also arrange the rockwork to have plenty of caves and overhangs.

good resource for lionfish care and info is lionfishlair.

make sure you have good filtration tank (filter socks, oversized skimmer, fuge, etc) if you wish to keep some of the harder corals. easy lps does well otherwise.

 

[josh0302]

The fuzzy dwarfs will fight in my experience, the dwarf lion fish are the ones that aren't compatible but the pterois are more tolerant of each other regardless male or female.

 

[arashsheikhpoor]

i had a pair of maroons and a dwarf lion in my 75 along with a coral banded shrimp and they all got along fine. the coral banded was large enough not to get eaten and they are a bit more aggressive so less likely to get eaten. My blood shrimp was eaten withing a day even though he was only slightly smaller than my lion. The maroons payed no attention to anything unless it got near their anemone. also had a melanarus and leopard wrasse with them but never had two lions in the same tank.

 

[m0nkie]

thank you all for the opinions! i will definitely look for a larger mature BC shrimp. always loved them but can't keep it in my DT.

I will have to do some more research on 1 or 2 Fuzzy lion. don't think I'll get the Fu Manchu.. just can't get over its look for some reason.. lol

I will consider the leopard wrasse too. beautiful creature!

and yes it will come with full sump, filter socks and oversized skimmer.

 

[arashsheikhpoor]

if youre interested I am selling both my cbs and dwarf lion... let me know.I have ad in the socali forum.

 

[namxas]

The fuzzy dwarfs will fight in my experience, the dwarf lion fish are the ones that aren't compatible but the pterois are more tolerant of each other regardless male or female.

Not necessarily true. Most lionfishes will get along, however, even males of different species/genera could end up fighting.

We've kept dwarf fuzzies in M-F pairs and trios (even had a breeding pair, which did become somewhat of a problem to tankmates).

A 60 cube is a bit tight for all the fishes you're considering. You could go with one medium-bodies Pterois species and one Dendrochirus (dwarf) species (the dwarf fuzzy is a great choice). You could even go add a small species scorp (Scorpaenodes sp.) as a bottom dweller, MAYBE a fu manchu, depending on the bioload and filtration.

One key thing is to have the tank properly aquascaped so that there are no squabbles over lairs (caves, overhangs, etc).

Shrimp WILL be eaten generally speaking, altho sometimes cleaners get a "pass". Best bet here is to establish the cleaner first. IME, CBS just get big and cranky and don't groom their tankmates, altho they WILL snap at passing fishes.

I don't recommend the clownfish, but if you must have one, be sure to mind the size differential or it will be eaten. Any torpedo-shaped fishes such as wrasses will also be eaten as they are easily swallowed.

HTH, and if you have any more questions, give a shout.

 

[kw22]

I have a 60 gallon cube with musk turtles.

It isn't that big and,I wouldn't put anything apart from fuzzy,zebra,fu Manchu lionfish TBQH.

I think that if you do enough water changes you could do

2 zebra
1 fu Manchu
And a pair of larger clownfish.

 

[DoubleM 10]

I have a 60 gallon cube with musk turtles.

It isn't that big and,I wouldn't put anything apart from fuzzy,zebra,fu Manchu lionfish TBQH.

I think that if you do enough water changes you could do

2 zebra
1 fu Manchu
And a pair of larger clownfish.

i would think one clown would be less territorial than a pair.(since they done have a significant other)

 

[kw22]

i would think one clown would be less territorial than a pair.(since they done have a significant other)

Yes you could keep one solo,but a pair always looks better and would fill up the tank,without Adding in more messy meat eaters (I am aware clowns also eat meaty foods).

I think that tomatoes would work best.

If anybody else feels 2 clownfish wouldn't work feel free to post a comment,I wouldn't want to mis-inform anybody on the forum

 

[DoubleM 10]

Yes you could keep one solo,but a pair always looks better and would fill up the tank,without Adding in more messy meat eaters (I am aware clowns also eat meaty foods).

I think that tomatoes would work best.

If anybody else feels 2 clownfish wouldn't work feel free to post a comment,I wouldn't want to mis-inform anybody on the forum

i see where you are coming from on the looks. im just talking about aggression.

i do agree that 2 clowns look better than one lol

 

[kw22]

i see where you are coming from on the looks. im just talking about aggression.

i do agree that 2 clowns look better than one lol

Haha,I would nearly be feeling sorry for them when I see them alone,shows how much of a man I am haha

 

[DoubleM 10]

Haha,I would nearly be feeling sorry for them when I see them alone,shows how much of a man I am haha

Don't worry. We are all on this site cause we have a soft spot for something lol

 

[TheBookWorm]

I would say just skip the clownfish. A pair would get aggressive, a single one would probably become lunch when the lions became bigger. Also, make sure they mad out at around the same size. Lions have been known to try to eat fish 2/3 their own length.