Aggressive fish

[xxnonamexx]

Question I have had my share of community fish and lately haven't had much success water quality is fine acclimation is fine no major losses usually losses when I order online I get one loss out of the bunch. Anyway i was thinking of making an aggressive tank. I like the lionfish. For a 55 gal do you suggest less rock and more swimming room? Will it harm my zebra eel? The venom part sounds scary. Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Navarre]

I think you will run into problems here. Less rock will mean poorer filtration. You already have a moray and adding a lionfish will make huge strains on the bioload.

A lionfish in a tank so small would ned to be a dwarf lion and its possible that it will be come moray food itself.

 

[Opcn]

Will a moray really take on a mouth full of venomous spines?

 

[xxnonamexx]

My friend gave me the Zebra eel from his 55 gal. He housed a puffer and also a lionfish w/o any problems. How quick does a small lionfish grow? I assume that more rock is better for a lionfish. I just need to make a deeper sand bed.

 

[Navarre]

Will a moray really take on a mouth full of venomous spines?

Yep

Astonishingly, there are tank-mates to which the lionfish are vulnerable. Obviously these should be avoided. Many moray eels are actually adapted to preying on lionfish. They come from underneath and attack the unprotected belly, disemboweling them and casually beating the corpse while avoiding the spines. Chain (Echidna catenate) and snowflake eels (Echidna nebulosa) are the exception and make very good lionfish tank-mates as long as they are big enough to not be eaten. Some aggressive triggerfish also attack lionfish but instead of going for the vulnerable undersides, they go straight for the weaponry, biting the tips off the dorsal spines and then leisurely taking potshots at the lionfish until it is dead. Clown (Balistoides conspiculum), Huma-huma (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) and similar triggerfish are particularly obnoxious lionfish killers. Attractive alternates include black (Odonus niger) and bluethroat (Xanthichthys auromarginatus) triggers

Lionfish webpage

 

[xxnonamexx]

My eel is a zebra NOT a moray

 

[Opcn]

One of these http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di....cfm?pCatId=136Zebra Moray Eel? prehaps

 

[jflowers]

Max. Size In Aquarium: Up to 4' 9"

HOLY COW

Jon

 

[Navarre]

A Zebra IS a moray )

Scientific Name: Gymnomuraena zebra
Formerly: Echidna zebra (Shaw, 1797)
Other Common Names: None Known
Characteristics & Compatibility: Easily recognized and named for its zebra-like stripes, the Zebra Eel is one of the more docile and less aggressive of eels. Rather shy, it should be provided with plenty of shelter for hiding. This eel generally will not disturb or be disturbed by other tank inhabitants, and can live communally with other eels as well.
Diet & Feeding: Like the closely related Snowflake Eel, Echidna species differ from other morays by having blunt, pebble-like grinding teeth with which they use to crush shelled invertebrate prey they feed on, primarily crabs, shrimps and mollusks. Nonetheless this eel has a nasty strong bite, so the use of a feeding stick is a good idea. Sometimes a specimen may not accept tank fed fares in the beginning, but over time it adapts fairly well to tank life and will accept fresh or frozen meaty crustacean preparations suitable for carnivores. When food is present it may take on a more aggressive behavior. Eels do not eat on a daily basis. Feedings 1 or 2 times a week should be sufficient, and then only feed them as much as they will consume. From time to time this eel goes into what we describe as a "hybernation" period, often hiding and not eating for several weeks or so.
Distribution: Extends from the Hawaiian Islands southward to Polynesia, westward across the tropical Pacific Ocean to the Philippines and East Indies, and across the Indian Ocean to the coast of Africa. Also occurs off Panama, the Galapagos Islands, and Mexico.
Habitat: Predatory bottom dweller.
Size: Can grow to about three feet (36 inches).
Minimum Tank Size Suggested: No less than 75 gallons, because even though you may have a smaller specimen it can outgrow a tank rather quickly.