Getting a scorpion fish tomorrow!

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Im getting a scorpion fish tomorrow for my future reef tank. Opinions, thoughts, suggestions?
Hoping they are similar to dwarf lions as thats what i wanted and asked about. Ive never bought or owned one so new exp.
I shared my concern with him eating my shrimp. Also i am concerned for my 1 bottom dwelling hawkfish.
D

 

[lion king]

What species, shrimp are going to be on the menu. Depending on the species, most will eventually eat the shrimp and depending on the species may eventually eat the hawkfish. They are not discerning, some may ve timid to eat large prey when they are small but eventually will eat whatever they can wrestle down. I mean over 1/2 their own size. They will get itin their mouths with the tail sticking out until they can work it all the way down.

Please respond with the species name and I can give you more specifics. They may need live foods initially but many will take to dead food easily. But be aware of their dietary needs, check out some of my other post suggesting food and warning about thiaminese.

Depending on the species, some will work the sand bed and jump up on the rocks occasionally while others may perch along rocks more exclusively. They don't swim but will jet themselves into the water column to grab some food.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Ty i was hoping ud respond.
All i asked was color and size.
They said 2 - 2 1/2" with a red head and pinkish tan body.
They said it was in a tank with a shrimp right now. A coral bandit. Which is what mine is but i agree i think the fish is just being timid and would munch that shrimp in the wild and comfy. Lol
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I will look into your.other posta ty. Yes id like to know the diet of the fish in nature. Will help me.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

*posts about scorps

 

[lion king]

It is really risky to put a scorp into your tank without specifically knowing the species. That could be anything from a little waspfish that will stay small and be fine with the hawk and the shrimp, or it be a scorpaena brasiliensis which grows to 8" and is a beast.

 

[seafarer's.reef]

Im getting a scorpion fish tomorrow for my future reef tank. Opinions, thoughts, suggestions?
Hoping they are similar to dwarf lions as thats what i wanted and asked about. Ive never bought or owned one so new exp.
I shared my concern with him eating my shrimp. Also i am concerned for my 1 bottom dwelling hawkfish.
D

Scorpionfish are extremely fun and entertaining. In my experience, all have taken frozen food in an instant. I currently own an unidentified Scorpaena sp. Scorpionfish, and it's by far my favorite fish in the tank. That's saying a lot considering the aquarium is full of puffers and Cowfish

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Ya but i love my predator fish. He wont eat my squirrel. Lol
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Well what i think i ended up with is a stonefish. We call them sculpins around here. Lol.
Anyway. Pics later.
My squirrel dosent like the hi hat i got.
D

 

[lion king]

I didn't see that one coming, those get huge. The shrimp and hawk are goners if you put him in that tank. I haven't asked what size tank you are planning. To keep that fish in all but a species tank you will need a good size tank so the other tank mates will be large enough.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

My current tank is 100gals but i have a 250 cube for the future.
The squirrel was pretty territorial towards the high hat but the other one just blended right in with the rock. Hes awsome. Cant wait to get off work tonight and check on the n00bs and try and get some pics for you lionking.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

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[lion king]

That is a Yellowspotted Scorpionfish (Sebastapistes cyanostigma), one of my favorite small scorps. He will get to about 3 to 3.5" and is a very interesting character. The hawk will be safe, shrimp are always iffy, a big cleaner maybe. These guys are wicked fast, so be careful working in the tank, and make sure the tank is covered, they can fly right over the edge.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Hes been sitting very still. I fed the tank and he only struck once at food. He was very quick. Like blink of the eye quick. Lol! Ty awsome infromation!
Squirrel is leaving the high hat alone so hopefully this will settle and be my semi aggressive reef family. Be careful cuz hes venomous yes?
It was a task in itself getting him in! Gonna make a screen lid. Rn its two sheets of glass and 1 big piece of acrylic. Ty lion!
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I did not buy any larger shrimp today cuz my bill was semi high. E.g. i bought coral and another fish. I will get some larger shrimp to add to my cuc and see how it goes. My squirrel has eaten 2 fish already.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Cant wait to get my moonlight going and feed the tank at night. Lol.
D

 

[lion king]

The yellowspot may need some ghost shrimp to start him off but you will eventually be able to target feed him. PE mysis and minced up bits of various seafood. Squirt towards him using a pipette or baster, He will also take little bite size chunks dropped in the water column as long as they stay suspended, eventually he may snag them from the bottom, or you can use a feeding stick to flip them up to add movement. You may have to block the squirrel to initially get him some live ghosties. They learn quick, mine used come up and take food right from the baster or stick, he would get ready as soon as I walked up to the tank.

 

[jarrod13]

Scorpionfish are extremely fun and entertaining. In my experience, all have taken frozen food in an instant. I currently own an unidentified Scorpaena sp. Scorpionfish, and it's by far my favorite fish in the tank. That's saying a lot considering the aquarium is full of puffers and Cowfish

@seafarer's.reef it looks to me like a Scorpaena porcus (black scorpionfish)

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

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[lion king]

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He looks happy, he's coloring up nicely.