Dwarf Lionfish and Puffer...Suggestions? Experiences?

[Pufferpunk]

Sorry... someone in this thread posted about wanting a FuManchu.

I have a Rhinoperas who I just cant get to eat dead foods. I gutload guppies for a few days with SW foods soaked in Selcon & SW fish vitamins, before feeding him.

[Jay.B.]

Sorry... someone in this thread posted about wanting a FuManchu.

That was me, sorry

I am still looking in to things but haven't decided which way to go yet.

[MatthewLaw]

I apologize if my comment(s) came off as nasty --- cant tell since emotions need to somehow be captured through typed words!!

I will definitley put a Valentini in my 30g tank but am worried that the lionfish may make this beauty a tasty snack!!

I am trying to think of a large enough puffer that can safely live in the 50g tank (size-wise)...maybe a spotted sharpnose? (or still too small)

maybe an adult Ceylon or GSP???

[Pufferpunk]

Yeah, the larger puffer species may be a better bet. I'd go with the Ceylon, as the GSP definately has a worse rep for fin-nipping.

[MMaddox]

Er, no, probably a bad idea.

Lionfish are poisonous, so if the puffer decides to chomp on it, by by all tank inhabitants if I understand correctly.

And a 50 gallon tank isn't that big, there aren't many saltwater puffers that would fit in there with room for a dwarf lion.. maybe a valentini? I would think a GSP would be too aggressive.

They're only poisonous by direct injection, they don't release poison into the water. Also, I've had frogfish eat lionfish in my tank, with no ill effects (except a mad girlfriend lol).

[MatthewLaw]

hahha ok.

if a fish simply brushes the lion (innocently) then does it run the risk of getting stung or does it need to be a more intentional contact for the venom to be released?

[Pufferpunk]

I would think they have to be stabbed by the fins. Puffer's skin is like leathery sandpaper--very hard to pierce.

[MatthewLaw]

oh wow thanks for the clarification....

i was at my LFS today and saw a Dwarf Fuzzy Lionfish...very nice.
in fact the Lionfish was in the tank with Valentini puffer and the lady stated she has not had any issues with the two in the past....(i know, i know, be cautious who/what you listen to at your lfs)

[t1gerbee]

Tangs need 90+ gallons. I think the lion was last into my tank. Please reconsider a FuManchu. They are verry difficult to get to eat & will probably have to be fed live foods forever.

agreed, lost my fu after 6 months of battling to get enough nutrients into it... would eat river shrimp but refused frozen food of any kind....

sad, would never replace it. Leave them in the wild

[t1gerbee]

Lionfish are poisonous, so if the puffer decides to chomp on it, by by all tank inhabitants if I understand correctly.

don't think that's right... they are not like box fish... if the puffer nibbled it could get stung (depending on where he nibbled.. and how the lion reacted) but from what i understand the lion can't 'release' toxins into the water...

just spike it into it's victim....


not nice, but i had a valentini and a dwarf fuzzy together without issues, and i've also had a porc and a stars with a fu manchu without issue...

they just don't come into contact, as these dwarf lions hang out under rocks and in crevices..


don't know about a voltan though, as they hang mid flow, so would come into contact with the puffers more.. (not suggesting a voltan as 50g tank is too small... just making an observation.


I'd have thought a dwarf fuzzy (that is already eating dead food) and a valentini would be ok in a 50G... but that pretty much eats up your whole stocking space...

[Myaj]

I wasn't sure.

I was thinking more along the lines of if the puffer bit it in half, and hit whatever organ stores the poison, it would get released into the tank? I don't know if it would work that way, and someone said their frogfish ate a dwarf lion with no issues so its probably not a huge worry.

[MatthewLaw]

would you suggest a fuzzy dwarf lion of a 'regular' dwarf lion? or visa-versa?

why/why not?

Also what order would you add the fish...puffer then lionfish or visa-versa/

[t1gerbee]

what is a 'regular dwarf lion... your going to have to get scientific names for us, or we have no idea which ones you are on about...

Either order is fine, get the biggest valentini you can find, and the smallest dwarf fuzzy... just to be on the safe side..

and do not bring the lion home unless you have seen it feeding on dead food... save yourself the headache.

[MatthewLaw]

sorry for the ambiguity...

'regular' dwarf lionfish (Dendrochirus zebra) v. fuzzy dwarf lionfish (Dendrochirus brachypterus)

unless this idea is horrible, after assuring that the lionfish eats at the LFS, I was going to bring it home and it would be the only inhabitant in the larger tank so I could successfully get it eating without any conflicts (before adding any other friends....)

[t1gerbee]

sounds like a good plan... as it won't have it's food stolen by little puffers... before it can be bothered to move and strike.