Greetings All- I picked up a healthy Dwarf Lionfish this weekend. The lionfish was healthy in the LFS tank and I had the owner feed the fish in front of me. He happily gobbled up some prawn! I purchased the same prawn when I bought the lionfish the following day.
I have had the lionfish since Sunday night and he does not seem to be eating. He just hangs at the bottom of the tank, still breathing. I have seen him move around a little and his color is strong.
I have left some food in the tank in hopes that he will eat when ALL the lights are off, and I cannot find the food. So I am hopeful but maybe the food is under some LR?!?
I have put some ghost shrimp in tonight and will see what happens tomorrow. I called the LFS and the guy suggested minnows in a few days...
Any suggestions?
Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
-
MatthewLaw
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 198
- Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:29 pm
-
Pandora114
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 397
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:28 pm
- My Puffers: C. travancoricus RIP both of you little guys. Tank will be a F8 after GSP goes full marine
T. nigroviridis Named Pepsi - Location: Comox Valley, BC, Canada
- Contact:
Re: Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
*points to the big red "ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS FIRST" block at the top of the page.
He could still be settling in, but I dunno till I see those water params
He could still be settling in, but I dunno till I see those water params
-
MatthewLaw
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 198
- Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:29 pm
Re: Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
Parameters: 8.2, 0, 0, <20, 1.021
2. 50g with 65 lbs LR (cured), 20lbs live sand, only other inhabitant is a false perc
3. use instant ocean. use kent marine to buff. use prime when doing water changes. perform 10% water changes weekly. last performed yesterday evening
4. added 20lb live rock 2 weeks ago. live rock was cured in a separate tank for 2 weeks. rock was not moved out of separate tank UNTIL amonia, nitrite were both 0. Added lionfish last week (sunday night).
5. tank has been up since october 27th. cycled with live rock and all parameters within limits before false perc added 4 weeks ago.
of note is that I am using 2 Koralia 4s and 1 Koralia 2 = 1200+1200+600 = 3000gph. i just them all off and the lionfish does appear to be more active now. the false perc has always enjoyed swimming into the powerhead force and getting pushed around.
2. 50g with 65 lbs LR (cured), 20lbs live sand, only other inhabitant is a false perc
3. use instant ocean. use kent marine to buff. use prime when doing water changes. perform 10% water changes weekly. last performed yesterday evening
4. added 20lb live rock 2 weeks ago. live rock was cured in a separate tank for 2 weeks. rock was not moved out of separate tank UNTIL amonia, nitrite were both 0. Added lionfish last week (sunday night).
5. tank has been up since october 27th. cycled with live rock and all parameters within limits before false perc added 4 weeks ago.
of note is that I am using 2 Koralia 4s and 1 Koralia 2 = 1200+1200+600 = 3000gph. i just them all off and the lionfish does appear to be more active now. the false perc has always enjoyed swimming into the powerhead force and getting pushed around.
-
Pandora114
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 397
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:28 pm
- My Puffers: C. travancoricus RIP both of you little guys. Tank will be a F8 after GSP goes full marine
T. nigroviridis Named Pepsi - Location: Comox Valley, BC, Canada
- Contact:
Re: Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
I say he's still settling in then.
-
MatthewLaw
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 198
- Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:29 pm
Re: Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
thanks for your rapid responses. I am happy that the lionfish is swimming around more. i would be happier if he was eatting too but better this than nothing. maybe he eats when ALL the lights are off........
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32987
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
What species? What are you offering him?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
MatthewLaw
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 198
- Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:29 pm
Re: Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
fuzzy dwarf lionfish. I am offering him frozen prawn with the heads cut-off. I watched him eat the exact same stuff in the LFS. I tried ghost shrimp but he was not interested. he is still swimming around BUT I have not seen him eat..... any suggestions? some people said goldfish/guppies just to get him eating.
-
t1gerbee
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 831
- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:10 am
- My Puffers: 1 x Ceylon + 1 x GSP + 1 x stars and stripes (juv) -Marine
(Non puffs-)
4 x clowns
1 x Oscar-Tropical
3 x Convicts-Tropical
1 x Map Turtle-tropical
2 x Plecs-Tropical
2 x goldfish - Location: london
Re: Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
don't feed him live fish, you'll just introduce a load of parasites/bacteria into the tank.
Lionfish are notoriously difficult to get feeding, and it is just going to take time. Has he eaten any river shrimp? Did you count them before adding them? Most lions will eat river shrimp, but they usually strike at night, so you might not see him eating.
As for dead food it;s just trial and error, trying getting the prawn to move around the tank by dropping it in directly in front of the powerhead..
the lion HAS to be paying attention and looking in the right direction to see the piece of prawn shoot across the tank, then will strike at it. (With any luck)
Lions can survive a long time without eating, so it's just a case of perseverance.. some never eat dead food, but if the LFS had him eating, i'm sure you can too..
Good luck.
Lionfish are notoriously difficult to get feeding, and it is just going to take time. Has he eaten any river shrimp? Did you count them before adding them? Most lions will eat river shrimp, but they usually strike at night, so you might not see him eating.
As for dead food it;s just trial and error, trying getting the prawn to move around the tank by dropping it in directly in front of the powerhead..
the lion HAS to be paying attention and looking in the right direction to see the piece of prawn shoot across the tank, then will strike at it. (With any luck)
Lions can survive a long time without eating, so it's just a case of perseverance.. some never eat dead food, but if the LFS had him eating, i'm sure you can too..
Good luck.
1 x 90G Juv stars and stripes puffer, Ceylon Puffer + GSP + 2 black clowns
1 x 30G LPS Reef
1 x 30G 1 x Blind goldfish
1 x 30G LPS Reef
1 x 30G 1 x Blind goldfish
-
goby1kenobi
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 10:48 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: one GSP: Random
- Location (country): Chicagoland
Re: Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
One thing I've read elsewhere: String the prawn or shrimp on some fine thread, and bounce it around in front of him so it looks more like a live shrimp. You might even want to try whole shrimp from a fishmarket or grocer. Make sure you hang on to the other end of the thread so the fish doesn't eat that, too.
tank: saltwater 55g, one 5" GSP named Random (mka Puff)
-
MatthewLaw
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 198
- Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:29 pm
Re: Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
thanks for your help. i took a whole prawn and tried the dangling string technique, but it did not work.
i think i will try the fresh shrimp from grocer idea tomorrow. maybe there is some issue with it being frozen prawn?
i added two ghost shrimp before. i have not seen them tonight but i have only been home for about 30 minutes so i will continue my search.
i think i will try the fresh shrimp from grocer idea tomorrow. maybe there is some issue with it being frozen prawn?
i added two ghost shrimp before. i have not seen them tonight but i have only been home for about 30 minutes so i will continue my search.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32987
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
Read the getting puffers to eat article in the Library. Works for all predators.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
MatthewLaw
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 198
- Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:29 pm
Re: Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
thanks for the suggestion. I just read the article and seemd to have covered most of the bases. I purchased some frozen shrimp at the grocery store last night, cut it up and upt it on a string, no luck!!
My next method is soaking the food in garlic. Now do i just purchase a clove, cut it up and roll the shrimp/prawn in it? If this does not work then maybe feeder fish?
The last time I saw the lionifsh eat was last Saturday.
On the upside (I guess), when i dangle the food infront of the lionfish he appears to 'smell it' and then ignore it. he is still swimming around the tank so maybe he is not starving yet? Temperature has been kept between 79-81. i justed tested the water and the amonia is starting to come up. I leave the food in over night since I know the lionfish is a night-time scavenger. So I performed a 15% WC.
My next method is soaking the food in garlic. Now do i just purchase a clove, cut it up and roll the shrimp/prawn in it? If this does not work then maybe feeder fish?
The last time I saw the lionifsh eat was last Saturday.
On the upside (I guess), when i dangle the food infront of the lionfish he appears to 'smell it' and then ignore it. he is still swimming around the tank so maybe he is not starving yet? Temperature has been kept between 79-81. i justed tested the water and the amonia is starting to come up. I leave the food in over night since I know the lionfish is a night-time scavenger. So I performed a 15% WC.
-
t1gerbee
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 831
- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:10 am
- My Puffers: 1 x Ceylon + 1 x GSP + 1 x stars and stripes (juv) -Marine
(Non puffs-)
4 x clowns
1 x Oscar-Tropical
3 x Convicts-Tropical
1 x Map Turtle-tropical
2 x Plecs-Tropical
2 x goldfish - Location: london
Re: Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
a lionfish strikes at food.. it will never scavenge... if it isn't in suspension in the water column it will not touch it. Food left on the floor will never be eaten. take it out.
did you find the two river shrimp?
did you find the two river shrimp?
1 x 90G Juv stars and stripes puffer, Ceylon Puffer + GSP + 2 black clowns
1 x 30G LPS Reef
1 x 30G 1 x Blind goldfish
1 x 30G LPS Reef
1 x 30G 1 x Blind goldfish
-
Pandora114
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 397
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:28 pm
- My Puffers: C. travancoricus RIP both of you little guys. Tank will be a F8 after GSP goes full marine
T. nigroviridis Named Pepsi - Location: Comox Valley, BC, Canada
- Contact:
Re: Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
Just out of idle curiosity, what kind of feeder fish can one breed in full marine for these fish to eat?
-
MatthewLaw
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 198
- Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:29 pm
Re: Dwarf Lionfish Suggestions/Help
thanks for your fast responses and help! i took al the uneaten food off the bottom of the tank. i never did find those river shrimp but im not surprised sicne they're transparent and my sand is white. i figure it could be dificult to find those inch long shrimp in a 48" long tank with tons of places for them to hide in the rock.
i will try shrimp and prawn tonight.
aside from my biowheel 350 and 250, there is only water circulation from a Koralia 1. i found that the lionfish hid when the two Koralia 4s were on.
you would be surprised how long a FW fish can survive in full salinity. i saw the river shrimp swimming around a few days after putting them in the SW tank.
i guess breed guppies in FW, THEN transfer a few to the SW tank when tis feeding time?
how does the garlic idea sound? or just play the game of perseverance? do you suggest leaving the shrimp/prawn suspended overnight?
i will try shrimp and prawn tonight.
aside from my biowheel 350 and 250, there is only water circulation from a Koralia 1. i found that the lionfish hid when the two Koralia 4s were on.
you would be surprised how long a FW fish can survive in full salinity. i saw the river shrimp swimming around a few days after putting them in the SW tank.
i guess breed guppies in FW, THEN transfer a few to the SW tank when tis feeding time?
how does the garlic idea sound? or just play the game of perseverance? do you suggest leaving the shrimp/prawn suspended overnight?