This is the deal guys

tcilmo · 04-08-2006, 01:30 PM

Ok,Ok, so I'm in the pet shop looking for a pet dinosaur with no luck I venture into the fish department and I see these little prickly cool looking guys ... The LIONFISH ... This fish caught my attention, after talking to kid at the shop that looked like he'd just walked out of a Marilyn Manson Concert. After about 20 minutes of hearing his life story and how he chased small squirrels as a child I decided that it was time to go and do some research on my own.

Now I go over to a buddies house to use his computer, which he is an major computer nerd, I turn on this thing that looks like a hospital life support system and it's sounds like a jet is taking off. After the windows screens leaves and the lights in the house quit dimming I launch a browser and find you guys.

After doing research on a Dwarf Lion Fish, yes one of the smaller guys. Anyway, what I have found on feeding them is live feeder fish and feeder shrimp. I found one site that said brine, and another said to wean it to frozen foods. I am looking for some people to respond back about their experiences with this type of fish. How and what you feed yours and how often you feed it. This will be the 1 and only 1 fish in a 30 gallon fish only tank. So please respond and give a new guy some assistance here. Well, if you look like you just did a human sacrifice or jumped out of the thriller video that's ok, just no need to mention the strange & unusual childhood traumas .

Gina · 04-08-2006, 02:17 PM

Excellent introduction!
I have no personal experience with Lion Fish but, a few of our members have them. I just wanted to Welcome you to RS!!

Woodstock · 04-08-2006, 02:36 PM

LOL Tcilmo!!! I very much enjoyed your introduction

I have never had a lionfish but I would think the size of the fish would determine the size of the food. Others will chime in on this.....

Ohhh.... Welcome to Reef Sanctuary~~

oldsaint · 04-08-2006, 03:48 PM

I had a Volitan Lionfish for about 3 years and gave him away when I decided to go reef. Now I have a large FO(fish only tank) and I'll probably get another one. They are a very personable fish with lots of character. One of my favorite fish. A few things to be carful of. They a very venomous. So stay will away from those "little prickly" fins. They have a wicked sting.
As far as feeding, I got lucky and mine ate as soon as he was in the tank. If you're having trouble getting it to eat you can use live feeders and shrimp to entice it but make sure they are saltwater feeders. Most LFS(local fish stores) have freshwater feeders. They are ok temporarily but will not be good long term for the fish. Mine pigged out on silversides and krill soaked in garlic and Selcon.
A 30 gal is the min size recommended for most lionfish, obviously a larger tank would be better. I kept mine in a 90 and he was very happy.
Here's some good info.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

Annie742 · 04-08-2006, 11:06 PM

LOL I bet I know the pet store you were in. I talk to that kid all the time. The one with the funny hairdo?

I got a lionfish from there.

I actually got him to eating dead guppies and ghost shrimp!
I just fed him about 1 ghost shrimp and 1 guppy about every other day. I went fishing every day in the tank with different things. I tied what ever to a peice of thread. He would look then swim away.
Then one day he did try to eat it. Then he ate a dead ghost shrimp off the thread. After that I threw a dead guppy in the tank and he ate it. Now I have to train him to eat different kinds of frozen stuff.
I think the dwaf lions are harder to train, thats what I have read anyway. Never had any of those.

observer · 04-14-2006, 09:04 PM

I had a Lion a few years back. A great fish (as said) with lot of personality. I started out feeding mine with mollies, and eventually moved to frozen shrimp that I jiggled on a chopstick. The transition was easy. My guy could not pass up anything that jiggled. I swear that fish would observe us and knew what was going on in the room. One last comment, I sure was careful about getting stung, but my fish was as careful of me as I was of him. He would move away from me when I needed to clean, etc. Hope that helps.

04-08-2006, 01:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
tcilmo Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5 View Gallery Karma Komment	This is the deal guys Ok,Ok, so I'm in the pet shop looking for a pet dinosaur with no luck I venture into the fish department and I see these little prickly cool looking guys ... The LIONFISH ... This fish caught my attention, after talking to kid at the shop that looked like he'd just walked out of a Marilyn Manson Concert. After about 20 minutes of hearing his life story and how he chased small squirrels as a child I decided that it was time to go and do some research on my own. Now I go over to a buddies house to use his computer, which he is an major computer nerd, I turn on this thing that looks like a hospital life support system and it's sounds like a jet is taking off. After the windows screens leaves and the lights in the house quit dimming I launch a browser and find you guys. After doing research on a Dwarf Lion Fish, yes one of the smaller guys. Anyway, what I have found on feeding them is live feeder fish and feeder shrimp. I found one site that said brine, and another said to wean it to frozen foods. I am looking for some people to respond back about their experiences with this type of fish. How and what you feed yours and how often you feed it. This will be the 1 and only 1 fish in a 30 gallon fish only tank. So please respond and give a new guy some assistance here. Well, if you look like you just did a human sacrifice or jumped out of the thriller video that's ok, just no need to mention the strange & unusual childhood traumas . Last edited by tcilmo : 04-10-2006 at 10:34 AM.

04-08-2006, 02:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,292 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: This is the deal guys Excellent introduction! I have no personal experience with Lion Fish but, a few of our members have them. I just wanted to Welcome you to RS!! __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

04-08-2006, 02:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 21,672 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: This is the deal guys LOL Tcilmo!!! I very much enjoyed your introduction I have never had a lionfish but I would think the size of the fish would determine the size of the food. Others will chime in on this..... Ohhh.... Welcome to Reef Sanctuary~~ __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~29 gal QT/Hospital tank~* *~3 gal Pico~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MH, dual Actinic t5s,AquaController III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

04-08-2006, 03:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
oldsaint Ricordea Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tampa,Fl Posts: 194 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: This is the deal guys I had a Volitan Lionfish for about 3 years and gave him away when I decided to go reef. Now I have a large FO(fish only tank) and I'll probably get another one. They are a very personable fish with lots of character. One of my favorite fish. A few things to be carful of. They a very venomous. So stay will away from those "little prickly" fins. They have a wicked sting. As far as feeding, I got lucky and mine ate as soon as he was in the tank. If you're having trouble getting it to eat you can use live feeders and shrimp to entice it but make sure they are saltwater feeders. Most LFS(local fish stores) have freshwater feeders. They are ok temporarily but will not be good long term for the fish. Mine pigged out on silversides and krill soaked in garlic and Selcon. A 30 gal is the min size recommended for most lionfish, obviously a larger tank would be better. I kept mine in a 90 and he was very happy. Here's some good info. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php __________________ 180 FOWLR, 260 Mixed Reef, 55 & 29 QT. Always looking for volunteers on water change day Wisdom and knowledge is your's to fish

04-08-2006, 11:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
Annie742 Star Polyps Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 155 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: This is the deal guys LOL I bet I know the pet store you were in. I talk to that kid all the time. The one with the funny hairdo? I got a lionfish from there. I actually got him to eating dead guppies and ghost shrimp! I just fed him about 1 ghost shrimp and 1 guppy about every other day. I went fishing every day in the tank with different things. I tied what ever to a peice of thread. He would look then swim away. Then one day he did try to eat it. Then he ate a dead ghost shrimp off the thread. After that I threw a dead guppy in the tank and he ate it. Now I have to train him to eat different kinds of frozen stuff. I think the dwaf lions are harder to train, thats what I have read anyway. Never had any of those.

04-14-2006, 09:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
observer Tunicate Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 16 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: This is the deal guys I had a Lion a few years back. A great fish (as said) with lot of personality. I started out feeding mine with mollies, and eventually moved to frozen shrimp that I jiggled on a chopstick. The transition was easy. My guy could not pass up anything that jiggled. I swear that fish would observe us and knew what was going on in the room. One last comment, I sure was careful about getting stung, but my fish was as careful of me as I was of him. He would move away from me when I needed to clean, etc. Hope that helps. __________________ observer Don't spend your whole life looking for what you already have

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)