Twin Spot Lionfish

[JJ1234567]

Has anyone on here kept this species of lionfish? From my reading their adult size is between 9-12cm which seems perfect for the tank Im setting up. I would keep him as the only resident, or maybe one other "quick, active fish" which would be about the same size. Just curius if anyone had kept this one. The only down side to him would be the eating of ornimental shrimps.

 

[Fishy412]

Has anyone on here kept this species of lionfish? From my reading their adult size is between 9-12cm which seems perfect for the tank Im setting up. I would keep him as the only resident, or maybe one other "quick, active fish" which would be about the same size. Just curius if anyone had kept this one. The only down side to him would be the eating of ornimental shrimps.

what size tank do you want to set up? i wouldnt recommend anything under a 30 gallon. theyre size is ok in a smaller tank but the amount of waste they produce and the stable conditions they need is better suited to a larger tank.

ive heard they can sometimes be hard to wean to frozen food so make sure you have a plan to do that

 

[andywg]

I am at work, but am fairly sure that Scott W. Michael recommends 20 gallons for the twin spot (or fumanchu, or more accurately Dendrochirus biocellatus) in Reef Fishes Volume I. 5" is the quoted maximum and I have never heard of one above 4" in a tank, so I have no reason to doubt Michael's comments

The Dendrochirus spp seem to be harder to wean onto frozen foods than their larger Pterois spp cousins (the more "typical" shaped lionfish) but it can be done.

Obviously you will be better off going FOWLR with a fish such as this, and I would not want a lot in the way of tank mates in a 20 gallon.

 

[JJ1234567]

so you wouldnt recommend a reef with a lion?

 

[andywg]

You can have a reef, but don't moan at constantly having to replace shrimps and hermits as these form the major part of the diet of most of the lions below 9" in length.

Also remember that in captivity they will eat anything that fits in their mouth, and they have large mouths.

The final point to consider when keeping lions is that some people have seen lions resting on corals and actually "stinging" the coral.

If you are prepared for all these points, then you can keep them in a reef, but it creates a lot of extra work. I certainly would want a tank double the size of the recommended minimum before trying a reef setting. The waste produced by the fish will not be productive to the reef inverts.