20 gallon predatory tank

[bolson]

Could I keep a juvenile lionfish or a juvenile porcupine puffer in a 20g for a year? He would be the only fish in the tank.
Thanks!

 

[Sharkbait19]

What species lionfish?
I’d say no on the puffer but yes for a dwarf lionfish.
Look into valentini puffer for one that can spend much longer in the 20.

 

[bolson]

What species lionfish?
I’d say no on the puffer but yes for a dwarf lionfish.
Look into valentini puffer for one that can spend much longer in the 20.

I will be tearing down the tank to move across the country in a year- that’s why it would be a temporary keep and then rehome to a larger tank. If a very small porcupine puffer would be ok for that time that would be awesome. Or I really like the miles or antennata lions, but open to mombasa or a zebra if others are a hard no even at their smallest

 

[Sharkbait19]

I will be tearing down the tank to move across the country in a year- that’s why it would be a temporary keep and then rehome to a larger tank. If a very small porcupine puffer would be ok for that time that would be awesome. Or I really like the miles or antennata lions, but open to mombasa or a zebra if others are a hard no even at their smallest

If you could locate a really small puffer it may be possible, but they are sold rather large.
Both the antennata and miles are a smaller lion to start, and they are slow growing, so if you can get a very small one it should be good.

 

[lion king]

A really small zebra under 2" would be just ok for about a year, and then need a larger home, 55g min recommended. That could be fun for a single fish, but they are social if given the chance. The antennata's I have had, and presently have, have proven to grow pretty fast and are one of the most active lions. I wouldn't recommend it even if able to get a really small one, which many times is about 3", the antennata would be best in a 75g min. The miles also grows fast and is likely to already be too large at purchase size, a miles will reach almost 12" and will be best in a tank in the 120-150g range. While if found small enough a mombasa may work, but they have a dismal survival rate, and the small ones never make it. If you want more info on lions, click my name and "find all threads"; you may find something of interest. The porc puffer is a non starter, regardless of how small you find one, they will outgrow it in really just a matter of a couple/few months.

 

[lion king]

1.5" zebra to a solid 4" in less than a year

 

[Sharkbait19]

Thanks for the info @lion king, I totally thought they were even slower growers than that, and that volitan were the only really big ones, must have read the wrong thing somewhere.

 

[lion king]

Here's an antennata about as small as you can find them, just under 3"; then a year later at just over 5".

 

[FishRN]

I caught a porcupine puffer that was the size of a gum ball and had it in a 75 gallon. It grew to be to big for that tank in a little under a year and had to be rehomed into a 350 gallon predator tank.