Volitan in a 55 gallon

[Torno]

Ok before anyone even starts, I just wanna say I didn't start this thread to start controversy, and also I have no intentions of getting a volitan at the moment, I just wanted to see why there were quite a few knowledgeable sources saying you could keep this fish in a tank that size, while people on here say stuff like "nothing under a 125".

My sources:

Marine Fishes: 500+ Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species
By Scott W. Michael

^^ a VERY knowlegeable man who knows his stuff^^

www.liveaquaria.com AKA Drs. Foster and Smith

^^ nothing but good experiences with them, their word is gold IMO.

www.windowtothesea.com

^^ good sight^^

www.reefhotspot.com

www.marinedepotlive.com

Before anyone says they're just trying to make a sale, take note that all the other tank size recommendations seem to be accurate for other fish. Why would several online retailers want to make a sale on just volitan lionfishs? Also, Scott W. Micheal is a pretty reliable person IMO to get your information from.

 

[Patchy]

it can go in a 55g for a time. but a standard 55g is 12 inches wide. your looking at a fish that reaches 14inches in length how will he turn around comfortably? despite his length they easy reach 8 inches in girth and these sizes arent even including their pectoral extensions.

i have kept a volitans in a 55g but only while they are small so i can train them, A friendly full grown volitan would have no fun in a 55g.

We shouldnt all be here to keep pretty fish but to create a ideal habitat for our pets its no different from a dog or cat i wouldnt keep german shepard locked in a laundry would you?

 

[Ironsheikh]

I had a 60 gallon top fin aquarium (basically a 55g but taller) and just went with a 75 g which can be found for the same price. I'll never go with a 13in wide tank again.
not enough room for lighting, live rock stacking, etc ---and plus a lionfish being so wide probably needs the widest tank out of any fish out there, right?


good call w/ the reef hot spot --never seen the site before but they have good pics and fish I've never seen available -- that klunziger's wrasse looks crazy

 

[Patchy]

ya lionfish are wider than almost all fish( at same length) except maybe groupers

 

[no1tiger2001]

they are also talking about that as the only fish in there top filtration etc... etc... to keep a predator like that in a tank that size. the shear waste alone calls for an asm type skimmer alone.

 

[Kaykay55]

Yes you will need a larger tank for him to be happy.

 

[Jerry W]

With regards to the authors and sites you've mentioned, you'll notice that they list a 55 as the "minimum" tank size. Minimum rarely, if ever, equates with optimum. See a full grown P. volitans in a 55, and then see one in a 150 or larger, where it can fan out and glide through the tank. I think you'll see a marked difference in behavior, health, and appearance. Personally, I wish some of the experts would stop citing their opinions of "minimum" tank sizes, and take a more responsible approach. I have a couple of Scott Michael's books, and value his information, but I disregard his tank size suggestions for all but the smallest fish.

 

[finsurgeon]

Maybe you should get a dwarf lion. They stay small a long time. I have a 58 gallon and a fuzzy dwarf is perfect and stay in my tank probably for its entire lifetime.

 

[John@JP]

are you planning on keeping it its entire life? You could always start with a small one and then trade it or upgrade your tank.