Volitan or Radiata Lion???

[Hefner413]

Hey ALL.

Any opinions? I'm trying to decide b/w the two - VOLITAN vs RADIATA. It'll be in a 180 aggressive.

Things I understand so far:

Volitan - max ~15", easier to feed, more social, coloring can be bland
Radiata - max ~10", harder to feed, can be shy, some say is prettier than volitan


OTHER THOUGHTS?

Thanks

 

[reefergeorge]

I would go radiata. They are so much better looking. IMO.
Make sure to have an established QT, and have access to live feeders.

 

[Hefner413]

I've heard that they are more shy... know if that is a common trait?

 

[eros]

I really wanted a Radiatta. I ordered one from my LFS and it within 2 days. They said it never ate while they had it. That was my first and only attempt at getting one. If you do order one I would get one online from a retailer that has a 14 day gurantee, or buy one from a LFS that is willing to order and keep for a week or already has one that is eating. I ended up getting a Black Volitan that had a really dark color that I liked. I plan on trying another Radiatta some day.

 

[LisaD]

Radiatas are gorgeous, but I haven't seen many long-term captives. I'm not sure about their survival rate in aquaria. You can routinely see volitans that are as old as dirt. Also, there's not much that can compare with the volitans outgoing personality, except maybe a fuzzy dwarf. And they still don't seem to be out and about as much as volitans.

Your tank is big enough, I'd get a volitans.

 

[welsher7]

I agree w/ lisad get a volitans, but if you are worried size look at a russells lionfish. They grow a little larger then the radiata, but smaller than the volitans. They are also very similar in appearance to the volitans lionfish.

 

[LisaD]

Dan, how easy is it to find a Russell's? I've never seen any lion in a LFS or e-tailer labeled as Russell's, but someone I know in the fish trade told me they get them all the time, but sell them as volitans.

 

[welsher7]

I bought mine from a local petland (I know I shouldn't support those places), it was labled as a red volitans. I think that get mislabled under that name and under volitans lionfish pretty regularly. I have seen them on liveaquaria once or twice in last year too. Just look for a volitans that has a clear 2nd dorsal fin, anal fin, and tail fin. I think russells are the perfect for those wanting a volitans but have size constraints.

 

[LisaD]

Thanks!