lionfish lovers unite!
- Thread starter rayn
- Start date
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basile
Well-Known Member
You won't like my story
As the title say its not pretty, because it hasn't been easy. I've had mine now for almost 10 months now. He's a Dwarf lion fish of the genus Dendriochrius barberi. Who are
a nocturnal species of all things, something you should be aware when you buy these things. You see his red eyes. Thats how you can tell. I had plenty of time to research him.
Because after i got him he disapeared in this tank for 2 month straight without feeding.
He was i thought dead i hadn't seen hin for 2 months and fed him. Until one night showing my tank to friends after the lights were down , showing them with my red light he appeared out of nowhere and scared the living daylight out of out of us Grrrrrr From that night on his name was LESTAT and i tried to feed him with no sucess. he never ate what ever i gave or tried to give him, ever, gosh shrimps, molies, mysis, you name it i've tried all kind of stuff , worms anything you can think just to get him to munch on something.
Then he disapeared for 6 months this time , all that without ever me feeding him because i always though he was dead i mean; i never found a body and in that tank it full of caverns , its not a joke i made that display refugium which is by the way the perfect environment for this kind of species of lionfish they're shy and not swimming around all the time. So be mindfull when shopping for one. And research the species your buying very well before you do.
Not only did he not reappeared 6 months later ; but he reappreared during the day, on the wrong side of the refugium(its seperated in 2) he was with the seahorses, and of course alive but skin and bones.
So he got a new Name ,Houdini , because how he got from one side to the other i have no idea, the screen is intacked, those fish usually don't jump, he's too small to eat the seahorses that are more than twice his size , but still .
My theory for survival is pods , he survived on pods all that time. Thats the only explanation i can come up with. The fact that he came out during the day, is that the pods are becoming rare, or have crased. Indeed i saw a lack of activity on their part and no more swarms on the glass anymore so, i figure he's out for a meal. That was my chance and after more than 8 months, no kidding he took my rosie finally. so excited here he is i barely had time to take the cam to fil it.
[video=youtube;sYcc7huFLHk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYcc7huFLHk&index=14&list=PLk_Pw-jAYdFfzK1jNhN7rAilGwHaEzvH5[/video]
He's finally decided to trust me, after all that time. And to top it all he deserve his name he returned to his original side of the tank one day and i still don't know how, or why...so Houdini it is. He's more friendly now but he's no swimmer about the tank unless live food is there. I'm not even trying frozen with him i'm just happy he's eating, he lives with a frogfish that i bought in the mean time , because in those six months i thought he was dead.
So A predator tank is not as easy or fun as you might think. It takes patience and live food is often involve. Even if some say you can traine to frozen its not always possible.
I write big for my iphone friends
As the title say its not pretty, because it hasn't been easy. I've had mine now for almost 10 months now. He's a Dwarf lion fish of the genus Dendriochrius barberi. Who are
a nocturnal species of all things, something you should be aware when you buy these things. You see his red eyes. Thats how you can tell. I had plenty of time to research him.
Because after i got him he disapeared in this tank for 2 month straight without feeding.
He was i thought dead i hadn't seen hin for 2 months and fed him. Until one night showing my tank to friends after the lights were down , showing them with my red light he appeared out of nowhere and scared the living daylight out of out of us Grrrrrr From that night on his name was LESTAT and i tried to feed him with no sucess. he never ate what ever i gave or tried to give him, ever, gosh shrimps, molies, mysis, you name it i've tried all kind of stuff , worms anything you can think just to get him to munch on something.
Then he disapeared for 6 months this time , all that without ever me feeding him because i always though he was dead i mean; i never found a body and in that tank it full of caverns , its not a joke i made that display refugium which is by the way the perfect environment for this kind of species of lionfish they're shy and not swimming around all the time. So be mindfull when shopping for one. And research the species your buying very well before you do.
Not only did he not reappeared 6 months later ; but he reappreared during the day, on the wrong side of the refugium(its seperated in 2) he was with the seahorses, and of course alive but skin and bones.
So he got a new Name ,Houdini , because how he got from one side to the other i have no idea, the screen is intacked, those fish usually don't jump, he's too small to eat the seahorses that are more than twice his size , but still .
My theory for survival is pods , he survived on pods all that time. Thats the only explanation i can come up with. The fact that he came out during the day, is that the pods are becoming rare, or have crased. Indeed i saw a lack of activity on their part and no more swarms on the glass anymore so, i figure he's out for a meal. That was my chance and after more than 8 months, no kidding he took my rosie finally. so excited here he is i barely had time to take the cam to fil it.
[video=youtube;sYcc7huFLHk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYcc7huFLHk&index=14&list=PLk_Pw-jAYdFfzK1jNhN7rAilGwHaEzvH5[/video]
He's finally decided to trust me, after all that time. And to top it all he deserve his name he returned to his original side of the tank one day and i still don't know how, or why...so Houdini it is. He's more friendly now but he's no swimmer about the tank unless live food is there. I'm not even trying frozen with him i'm just happy he's eating, he lives with a frogfish that i bought in the mean time , because in those six months i thought he was dead.
So A predator tank is not as easy or fun as you might think. It takes patience and live food is often involve. Even if some say you can traine to frozen its not always possible.
I write big for my iphone friends
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Lionfish Lair
Renee
I have never seen a large S. brasiliensis, like yours, in a home aquarium. That's just bloody wonderful.
Lionfish Lair
Renee
They aren't seen as frequently as the "common" lions, but they do appear. DD had one yesterday. They are an awesome fish to keep. They stay on the bottom, so they actually utilize a different portion of the tank, than some others.
EDIT: Am I allowed to say DD?
cpt
Active Member
I have been told by a few of my local marine stores that they often have issues transitioning to frozen and supplemented foods, are there any forms of live feeders, relatively affordable and accessible?
Also land locked western Colorado seems to be lacking in appealing exotics
Rob Top1
Well-Known Member
Thanks, he is an amazing fish to have. Does make it difficult to add to his 180, of it hits the water he thinks its food for him. Have thought about moving him to a smaller tank since he isn't much of a swimmer but I just don't have the heart to take him out in case it stresses him. I have had to set up a 125 grow out system. The tank is from a pet store closing and is divided into 3 boxes. Currently growing a couple sea robins and a trigger to move over to his lair.
Lionfish Lair
Renee
Then you come talk to me, when you need to convert them. If they aren't able to do it, you're talking to the wrong people. LOL! Just kidding. We've advanced a looooooong way. There's all sorts of tricks.
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cpt
Active Member
I would greatly appreciate that, but the first step is locating a nice healthy specimen in my location, it's been several years since last I saw one within the local marine market
Lionfish Lair
Renee
Just in case.... I'm not that brave to say I'm the bomb. I was just fooling around. We all have our own little successful tricks.
Lionfish Lair
Renee
Hah! I was just about to say "Don't worry, rayn will be along any moment to put me in my place".
I don't have one anymore but have kept 2 dwarfs. Changing over to frozen can be pretty easy. The way I do it is to wait until they get comfortable around you. I feed rosey reds to start. After he starts to realize. Your there to feed him they kind of pick a spot to perch and wait to be fed. I would normally dangle a rosey red by the tail and the lion would come closer to the top and when he got close enough I would let go. He would just chomp it. Keep doing that for awhile. One day you just switch it up on him and use a frozen krill I've used frozen formula 2 or chunks of silver side. Your using the fact they just chomp on it in your addvantage. That's how I did it anyways
