I am planning on putting a fuzzy lionfish in my 36 gallon tank and was wondering what I could put in with it as far as a clean up crew. I am fairly certain I can put an emerald crab or two in, but what else? Can I put hermit crabs or snails or will the lion eat them? Just wondering if anyone had some experience with this. Oh and the lion will be the only fish in the tank.
Occupants for fuzzy lionfish.
- Thread starter tierbett
- Start date
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Actually snails and hermits are ok to use, shrimp would be the only bad idea.
SeahorseKeeper
Where's the mysis?
+1. My fuzzy never bothered snails or hermit crabs.
Daniel@R2R
Living the Reef Life
You could probably do an urchin too if you wanted. They tend to bulldoze, but I like them in predator tanks bc they give some color.
Texas Reefer
Valuable Member
Blue or black tuxedo sea urchin, Halloween sea urchin, pencil sea urchin...
xrayjeeper83
Active Member
Mine ignores my emerald crab
lilmissc
New Member
Honestly so long as they are fed I've never had an issue with any tankmates. Mine wouldn't even eat a guppy only ghost shrimp. Had him with 2 fire shrimp 2 cleaner shrimp a multicolor angel, tricolir wrasse, two ocellaris clowns, puffer and a LTA. Also a peppermint shrimp, diamond watchman go by and the standard CUC. Unfortunately he passed away due to my power going out while I was out of town at my apartment :-( but my advice: feed every other day 1-3 ghost shrimp and keep an eye on behavior. If his fins wiggled near anything we fed him. Never bothered anything. Amazing little guy too 
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Lionfish Lair
Renee
The longer you have the lion, the greater the risk could be for something like a peppermint shrimp. How much of a risk will depend on many different factors like hiding places, how well the shrimp is fed, how well the lion is fed, personality of the lion, exposure to food item, size differential at any given time. Even if the tank is a little warmer in the summer, that will make them a little hungrier, and the shrimp a little tastier looking. Hey, when a plane crashed in the Andes, most of that rugby team choose to eat friends verses eating nothing..... don't underestimate hunger. I have a mombasae lion, that has no idea what live food is and the shrimp would climb all over him while he waited for me to feed him some cod. Then I have a barberi lion that would eat his own self, if he could figure out how to do it.
Personality can have a lot to do with tankmate compatibility. You also have to remember, personalities can change as they grow older, as social order changes or environment changes. I had a pair of fuzzy lions that were just awesome. When they started breeding, they started being aggressive to EVERYONE. The whole tank dynamic totally changed at that time.
Snail and hermits are safe. When crabs are smaller, they can be snack size. But if they live until they are larger, they are generally safe for dwarfs. Shrimp are, generally, the one most commonly at risk.
I have a mombasae lion, that has no idea what live food is and the shrimp would climb all over him while he waited for me to feed him some cod. Then I have a barberi lion that would eat his own self, if he could figure out how to do it.Personality can have a lot to do with tankmate compatibility. You also have to remember, personalities can change as they grow older, as social order changes or environment changes. I had a pair of fuzzy lions that were just awesome. When they started breeding, they started being aggressive to EVERYONE. The whole tank dynamic totally changed at that time.
Snail and hermits are safe. When crabs are smaller, they can be snack size. But if they live until they are larger, they are generally safe for dwarfs. Shrimp are, generally, the one most commonly at risk.
