Keeping Lionfish In The Aquarium

One of the most exotic fish to keep in a fish tank aquarium is the lionfish or volitans.  These are highly beautiful but venomous fish that need to handled with special care.  Lionfish live in the tropical water of Indo-Pacific and the Red Sea.  They are mostly found among the reefs and rocky crevices where they spend most of their time hunting for prey.

Before deciding to have them part of your aquarium, be sure at what you’re getting into.  These fish are carnivorous and have a large and voracious appetite.  They will attack any fish that is smaller than they are.  Lionfish are usually better off  in their own aquarium than with other fish.

There are 11 species of lionfish from two distinct genera (Pterois and Dendrochris) that is is available to the home aquarists.  Pterois lionfish have long flowing fin rays that are individually sheathed by the membrane.  Dendrochris lionfish have fins that form a solid fan with individual fin rays held together by a connective membrane.

All the lionfish share the same characteristic which is their fan-like fins.  Their fins are long and house very venomous spines.  This is the reason why no other fish want to eat them, let alone get near them.  Strangely, their fins are not actually used for protection from other fish, but instead are used for hunting.  Once they find their prey, lionfish use their large fins to box in their prey.  If their prey tries to escape, they will bump the wall of fins and get stung by one of the venomous spines.

Depending on the species of the lionfish, some require a large aquarium, usually 100-125 gallon tank, while others need just a 30 gallon tank to survive.  Be sure to check with the species of lionfish first before buying the tank.  Lionfish can grow in an excess of 15 inches and will live for over 10 years.

Since these fish live in a coral reef in their natural habitat, you will want to have reef-like setting in the aquarium.  Be sure to when placing the objects in the aquarium, there is still room for the lionfish to move around easily.

Lionfish are not for everyone.  Only expert aquarist should keep them in the aquarium.  Improper handling can cause injuries to yourself, and even worse, death!  So be sure to read everything you can about the lionfish first before purchasing one.

To get the most of out your fish tank aquariums, check out our aquarium care ebook today and find out how you can keep your fish healthy, safe, and happy.