Dwarf Lionfish tankmates

[Geoff]

not sure it really matters which one you add first. i would prolly start with the lion since they can be the hardest to get feeding in the beginning.

G~

[wesley]

gotcha. I figured I'd be able to ween the lion quickly and easily with feeders, and I don't think I can do that with the eel. Here's hopin they'll all be GTG. Thanks for your help, I think that'll be a cool (mini) bad boys tank.

[Geoff]

eels are normally quite easy to ween onto prepared foods. most will always take fresh shrimp from the grocery store. lions on the other hand may take some weening. ghost shrimp are great. use a net to bring the shrimp close to the lion so they can see the shrimp. eventually they will learn the net means food. eventually you will be able to sneak a dead shrimp in on the lion. when this becomes easy then you can try shrimp and silversides.

G~

[wesley]

kinda off topic, but I was wondering how suceptible to crypt the dwarf lions are? I've heard snowflakes aren't too apt to get it, but I don't know about the lions.

[wesley]

also wondering if there are urchins or nudibranchs that would be avoid becoming a meal in this tank. I'd be hopin' they'd help act as a clean up crew/algae control.

[Geoff]

there are very few nudi's that survive in out systems. not because of the critters we keep, but because they have such specific food requirements.

normally eels/lions will not pick on snails and urchins. i say normally because my wife's zebra moray ate my 15yr old pencil urchin one day. the urchin had been in the tank for a year with the eel. this was a big zebra moray though.

G~

[wesley]

awesome! I feel like I really have a good plan for this tank now. Introduce the urchin(s) first, right? I wouldn't want to be training the fish that what I stick in the tank is food, then stick one in, right?

[bobbyandtabby]

Originally Posted by Jflip2002

He will become a meal, the damsel that is. Get something bigger than the lionfish, and you'll probably be ok. What about like a Panther Grouper or something (Not sure if a 50 is big enough). Or a larger rabbit fish would be nice as well.

A panther grouper needs a MINIMUM 300 gallon tank. Please don't put it in a 50 gallon, you'll only kill it.