zebra lionfish antics?

[karnivorous]

i just picked up about a week ago a beautiful red zebra lionfish, and he seems to be doing well. a few questions though. he doesnt act at all like my fuzzy dwarf ive had for around 4 months. he sits in the front corner of the tank for vast periods of time, its like hes watching my tv, also from time to time he will kind of twitch, sometime pretty violently, more of a lunge forward, for no apparent reason at all. after he does this, everything is fine, as if he didnt just tweak out at all. anyone else have lions that do this? i read that it can just be part of a settling in phase, any truth to that?

 

[namxas]

When the fish "lunges forward", could it be striking at a pod in the tank? IME, all of our smaller lions and scorps LOVE pod hunting, esp. when they're juvies.

D. zebra is a bit more sedentary than D. brachypterus, generally speaking. IME, the fuzzy is probably THE most "out and about" of the dwarf lion species.

 

[karnivorous]

well, i guess that could be it. some times its just into open water at seemingly nothing. but he hasnt done it in a few days. i know my fuzzy does eat pods, ive seen her do it alot.

also, he ate his first frozen today!!!! finally!

 

[namxas]

Great news on the frozen! It will get easier from here on out now.

Just keep a good eye on the zebra for a bit "to be safe". Look esp. for clamped fins, dull coloration, and/or heavy gilling.

 

[wlyon]

Sounds like new environment overload to me haha. I remember my zebra was super shy and stayed in a corner for a couple weeks, now he is a big puppy dog and greats me at the top of the tank every time I open the lid.

Glad to hear he is eating frozen now!!!

 

[karnivorous]

Cool thats good to hear he is more active today than he was yesterday, and looks happier in general. Kinda wish he had held off on frozen a bit longer. My5.5 planted tank is on shrimp over load now....