Are Lionfish reef safe?

[MandarinFish]

I am confused... do lionfish eat corals?

 

[ChaoticReefer]

No, but they will eat small fish that are usually in a reef tank. Plus, they can get big, so that might mean the lion will knock corals over.

 

[FMarini]

Hi:
I call lionfish reeflimiting. They are by definition reef-safe, as they have no interest in corals. However many lionfish will eat your ornamental crabs/shrimp and any fish they can fit into their mouths.
So if you want a lionfish in a reef tank consider many of the dwarf species. If you want additional information send me a message or email me. I can send you a lionfish info sheet which contains more details on keeping lionfish
frank

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't say they are not reef safe because they knock corals over or even eat reef inhabitants(shrimps are not necessary), but I would say that they create too much waste that would have a negative impact on corals and such.

 

[Bill2]

I wouldn't say they are not reef safe because they knock corals

By that definition Turbo Snails aren't either

They are Reef safe not Fish safe

 

[Dewman]

I second the waste comment.
My dwaft Zebra lion is a POOPING MACHINE! I see it everywhere.
The other day, he even had the audacity to dump in the middle of my new open brain !
He is totally cool and a real eating machine, but I think he will soon be sold away to the LFS.
I had to cut back on feeding him to once every other day and only 1 piece of krill each time.
It's still too much waste for my 75 gallon.

I reccomend fuzzy dwarfs or Fu Man Chu's. They perch like a Hawkfish and tend to be docile.

 

[trigger0214]

ANEMONEBUFF wrote:
I wouldn't say they are not reef safe because they knock corals

hmmm...my baby conch snail got pinned in behind my Ocean Currents Wave Maker and stripped out all the gears in it (I had had it for 4 weeks)....

Definitely not budget senesitive...but still considered reef safe.

 

[MandarinFish]

How about an antenna lion? Do they stay relatively small?

Smaller than Fu Manchu's?

 

[Dewman]

All the antennae Lions I have seen were as big as Volitans.
It's so hard though to say how big one will get. I have seen a Black Volitans at the LFS that has been as big as my dwarf for over a year...
Maybe he's a freak of nature

 

[MandarinFish]

Fu Manchu's, being 4" small and unable to eat chromis, anthias, etc are reef safe, minus any shrimps?

And they don't dump fat craps right in the middle of open brain corals?

Can they co-habitate with other lions, same or other species?

 

[Dewman]

I don't personally have any experience with any lionfish other than my Dwarf Zebra.
I would assume that it is the nature of ANY lionfish, like other predators, to be a super-poopin' machine.
They eat big - they poo big.

Hey, my open brain is sort of shaped lik a toilet seat. Maybe he got the wrong idea

 

[Kevin Day]

By that definition Turbo Snails aren't either

you can say that again. mine all now reside in the sump.

 

[shalegac]

I hate turo snails!

 

[Mouse]

Reef Safe, yes. Reef freindly, no. Just wait till your 16" Lion takes a dump all over your pretty corals and youll know what i mean. Big Messy Fish.

 

[Garry thomas]

i'm drunk but lions reef safe but not fish safe, they will eat a fish nearly half there body size, fu man chu prob ok but b carefulkl shrimps, pteroris radiatta probally smallest of full size if that makes sense. but again watch small fish , keep well fed?

a very tired GT of s wales

 

[MandarinFish]

Would a Fu Manchu eat a Chromis or an Anthias?

 

[Garry thomas]

possibly small ones, lions are opertunistic feeders, cor tha was a big word, so early in the morning . you pays yur money and takes your chance? but seiously they do like shrimps, deep down you know the answer?


GT s wales

 

[Anonymous]

Mouse has the perfect description. "Reef safe but not reef friendly".

The conch incident was a freak incident and has nothing to do with a conch being reef safe.

Turbos clean the tank. Thus, benefitting the tank. Unfortunately, they are cumbersome and that is their negative side.