Volitan lionfish tankmates?

[mikebick01]

Im looking at buying a 7-8" volitan lionfish. I have a 120 gal reef aquarium with mostly puffers and triggers. My smallest fish is a brown trigger about 2 inch, next is a valentini puffer, then a pair of ocellaris clowns full grown with large carpet anemone. I have a 5" moon wrass too. Wondering if he would be or eat my fish. Also heard different opinions on how big they get in captivity, any experiences?

 

[namxas]

If you have puffers and triggers, don't get a lionfish...it will be harassed to death.

Take a look at the video in this article (scroll down to the section on P. volitans):

Lions, and Turkeys, and Devils, Oh My! Lionfish in the Home Aquarium

This article should also answer most of your questions regarding lionfish in general as well as particular species.

As far as size goes, a healthy P. volitans will reach 12" or more within a couple of years, and for reference, an adult volitans can eat a 6 1/2" adult female maroon-striped clownfish with no trouble (I personally know of 3 peeps this has happened to).

 

[MrTuskfish]

^^^^Greg really says it all. But that doesn't mean I can stay quiet.^^^^^^^^
It sure was a good idea to research the lion before buying one. I may be one of the owners of one of the 6+'' maroon clown dinners namxas refers to. IMO, none of your fish are good tankmates. The lion will certainly eat the clowns and wrasse and the triggers and puffer will constantly harass it. As to size, there just isn't room for much argument on their growth. They can easily reach a foot within a year or so. This is very common. I've raised several babies from a couple of inched to 12"+. I don't know of any commonly kept fish that grows faster. I don't know what a brown trigger is, but lions will eat small triggers, in spite of the little "trigger" fin. Your wrasse, I assume its a lunare, is not a fast grower and is a thin fish. If he isn't small enough to be eaten yet, he soon will be. The clowns being eaten is a sure thing.

I see no option but to return the lion or trade all of your other fish if you decide to get one. Lionfish tanks need to be centered around the lion. They're easy to keep, but can't live with many/most fish. There are plenty of fish that do fine with Volitans, though. Most tangs, large wrasse, many butterfly fish, etc.

 

[Stickboy97]

Just my $.02. Only thing that is a good tank mate for a lion has to be a tall fish (as described above tangs, butterflyfish, large angels). I've had several over the years. I had one in a 180g get to over 12". Only think I kept with him was a large grouper, a stingray & an eel. Anything he thought he could get in his mouth he would.