antennata lionfish

[reeferJ]

If I were to purchase the antennata lionfish, would it swim around my tank, or hide in a cave? Would a volitans be a better choice for viewing?

thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Lionfish relate to shelter during the day. They do not swim about the reef (or your tank) like a tang or wrasse does. If they feel comfortable however they will remain in the open, hovering over a coral head or rock, or near a cave opening.
You didn't mention how large your tank is, a factor critical to whether you can maintain either of these species. FO or reef? P. volitans is the larger fish of the two.

Jim

 

[reeferJ]

240 gallons, corals, no shrimp. Alot of the pics I see of the antannata are upside down under a ledge, I'd prefer the fish be out in the water, not necessarily cruising the tank.

 

[reeferJ]

Upon further inspection, the fish I have my eye on at the LFS could very well be a mombasse. Any help on the characteristics of these?

 

[Anonymous]

P. volitans are usually out in the water, but again appreciate some kind of structure to relate to.
I have never kept mombasse.

Jim

 

[Bluetangclan]

I love my antennata lion. It is always out in the open, especially if it sees someone in the room. He eats right from my hand and reminds me of a puppy dog the way it swims up to the glass wagging its tail. Coloration is beautiful, much better than I have seen on volitans but it might just be the food I give him and the only vols I have seen are at the LFS. Great fish, curious about everything especially nassarius snails and while he doesnt actually attack or bother them he just follows them around. The only time "Sparky" ever goes into the rockwork is when he is chasing a shadow. Totally non aggressive to my 6 line wrasse, flame angel and snowflake. I feed mine by hand, pieces of shrimp and formula one.

 

[teevee]

If you are keeping SPS, I assume you have metal halides. High levels of light can cause a lionfish to go blind. Check into this before you make your choice.

Edit - Better provide a source for this statement: Bob Fenner, http://www.wetwebmedia.com/liondisfaqs.htm, unknown date. There are a few references to this but let me assert that I have never kept a lionfish, let alone had one go blind, and therefore anything I say about lionfish should be taken with a grain of salt (or better yet, checked into by interested parties). 8)

No offense taken Vitz.

 

[ozadars]

I think antennata is better then volitan and the best of the lions if you are going to put in a big reef tank and want a swimmer sp.
Also i hearn in the nature volitans live in a cave w/ marine bettas, dwarf angels and coral banded shrimps... Maybe you can make this combo?

 

[Anonymous]

If you are keeping SPS, I assume you have metal halides. High levels of light can cause a lionfish to go blind. Check into this before you make your choice.

:?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :roll:

where on earth did you get that info from?

iirc, most issues of of 'blindness'-if that is, in fact, what the behavior of said 'blind' fish indicates, is more likely to be related to poor diet/ nutritional deficincies

(just because a fish 'appears' to be blind doesn't necessarily mean it's eyes aren't functioning, btw)

 

[Anonymous]

sorry if i seemed to be overly confrontational w/that post

 

[Anonymous]

My P.volitans swims in midwater and hardly ever hides during the day. After eating, he will usually hang out upside down under a ledge and become darker in color for a couple hours, but then comes back out and cruises the tank. I think you could get either fish. Personally, I think P.volitans is the much nicer looking fish. I think both are beaten out by P. radiata though.

 

[ozadars]

I think a volitan will grow too much for a reef tank, i mean he will fit into your tank but wont be good looking IMO, a fu man chu, leaf fish or angler is a very good fish for reef tanks but all these and lions will eat the smaller fish so becareful. A antennata is much more smaller then a volitan and i think he will be better in a reef tank... but thats just my opinion because i like smaller fish then the biggers. Also my volitan was always hiding after eating...

 

[TheZooFarmer]

yeah vitz you need to tone it down, I mean really?

 

[Len]

Zoofarmer, please read your email. It was sent to your hotmail account. If you need me to resend it to a different address, please let me know.

 

[Anonymous]

In my observations/experience, I find that P. volitans are more likely to be out and about in the water column, especially if in groups (great tank at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific of them). The dwarf lions very much tend to stay to the rocks and cover.

 

[Anonymous]

Years ago I had a fu-man-chu lion that would come up to the surface, flip over, sick his ventral fin out of the water, and wiggle it until I scratched his belly. Then he'd happily swim back down to his rock and hide out until it was silversides time.

 

[ozadars]

Cool i think everyfish have different personality, my volitan was hiding all day long and John's dwarf was more social then my volitan probably...