Russell's or an Antennata Lion fish?

Jenz · Jul 23, 2016

Hi. Just enquiring about peoples experiences with either Lion; have been considering a Russell's as I believe they spend most time suspended in the water and adjust well to "tank hood" but on flipside there are so much more Antenattas available and they are so stunning.
Intended for 88-90gal display.
Thoughts and any experience advise very welcome.
Thanks in advance

redfishbluefish · Jul 23, 2016

Let me seek Renee onto you....she's an expert in all things Lion. This one is for you @Lionfish Lair .

Lionfish Lair · Jul 23, 2016

I never found Russels to be any more or less active than an antennata. Between the two, I would definitely get the antennata.

lion king · Jul 23, 2016

I have one with my dwarf lions in a 90, he is quite spectacular. I think they are similar in regards to their feeding habits as the dwarfs are, I feed my tank mostly live. Depending on what you are keeping them with, competing for feed may be challenge. Mine likes to perch, likes hanging in a cave, hunts at dusk and night.

Lionfish Lair · Jul 23, 2016

This....

or this... Hmmmm....

Jenz · Jul 23, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
I never found Russels to be any more or less active than an antennata. Between the two, I would definitely get the antennata.

You wouldn't mind telling me why the preference for the Antennata?
My consideration for the Russell's was simply because a lot of info states it acclimatises well, and suspends itself in tanks body of water similar to Volitans ie making use of tank dimensions.

My concerns for Antennata was because I was looking to get either 1 or 2 Fuzzy Dwarfs so was concerned about over crowding the rock work.
Thank you for images; they are stunning fish!

Lionfish Lair · Jul 23, 2016

The Volitans and Russels is not an open water fish, they are fish that will venture out into open water to hunt. They perch like the rest. Other lions couldn't be bothered to hunt out in open water and tend to stick closer to the bottom and the rocks to hunt. That really doesn't make a difference though, as none of our tanks offer "open water" to a lion. In our tanks they are very close to the bottom of the tank and very close to rocks, that's not open water by their definition. They don't hover, they swim, so our tanks offer very little in the way of encouraging that natural behaviour. Because they can't really swim, they perch just like the rest. All lions tend to get a little lazy when they are adults, but this is even more so with the larger species. You Russels will ultimately spend more time on the rock and take up more room on the rock than an Antennata. Does that make sense at all? I can try to explain that a little differently, as I feel I muddled that one a little.

Antennatas are prettier.

They are both the same as far as personality.

Both the same as far as converting to frozen.

My Russels could have eaten my fuzzy.

Lionfish Lair · Jul 23, 2016

Fuzzies can't be reliably sexed, so keep that in mind if you wanted to roll with two.

Jenz · Jul 23, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
The Volitans and Russels is not an open water fish, they are fish that will venture out into open water to hunt. They perch like the rest. Other lions couldn't be bothered to hunt out in open water and tend to stick closer to the bottom and the rocks to hunt. That really doesn't make a difference though, as none of our tanks offer "open water" to a lion. In our tanks they are very close to the bottom of the tank and very close to rocks, that's not open water by their definition. They don't hover, they swim, so our tanks offer very little in the way of encouraging that natural behaviour. Because they can't really swim, they perch just like the rest. All lions tend to get a little lazy when they are adults, but this is even more so with the larger species. You Russels will ultimately spend more time on the rock and take up more room on the rock than an Antennata. Does that make sense at all? I can try to explain that a little differently, as I feel I muddled that one a little.

Antennatas are prettier.

They are both the same as far as personality.

Both the same as far as converting to frozen.

My Russels could have eaten my fuzzy.

Thank you; sorry about "open water" comment; yes I didn't mean "open water" equivalent to that of the ocean/sea. Guess was a poor interpretation of the comment that they have a tendency to hang out in the open rather than hide amongst the rock work; sorry was trying to look for clarification for what has been stated in a few written texts but if in your experience isn't the case then would take that as gospel as haven't come across at this stage anyone else that has had experience with Russell's lionfish.
Re. Sexing Fuzzy Dwarfs, yes as talk to people in the industry it seems more seem to contradict the statement that they are sexually dimorphic.
Thank you for your time and comments; I am just trying to plan for an aquarium that is everything I want it to be re. Visually pleasing and not out-of-my-depth difficult that is also respectful to the included animals it will contain and not have them crowded for space, attacking each other or worse still left starving :-/

Jenz · Jul 23, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
This....

or this... Hmmmm....

BTW your Antennata looks as though it is hanging out for you to head to the kitchen so it can get a feed; my pup does the same when sitting outside kitchen window

lion king · Jul 24, 2016

I've got an antennata with a fuzzy, zebra, and fu manchu in a 90. There is plenty of room, I have my rock work pretty vertical for plenty of perching areas, and 3 caves. Sometimes all 4 of them are stuffed in one cave like a bunch of bats. Here's 3 of them hanging out on a rock island.

Lionfish Lair · Jul 24, 2016

Gosh, my Antennata was so much bigger than yours, lion king.

lion king · Jul 24, 2016

He's about 4.5" now , seems like he's grown about an inch in the last year.

Lionfish Lair · Jul 24, 2016

Jenz said:
Thank you; sorry about "open water" comment; yes I didn't mean "open water" equivalent to that of the ocean/sea. Guess was a poor interpretation of the comment that they have a tendency to hang out in the open rather than hide amongst the rock work; sorry was trying to look for clarification for what has been stated in a few written texts but if in your experience isn't the case then would take that as gospel as haven't come across at this stage anyone else that has had experience with Russell's lionfish.
Re. Sexing Fuzzy Dwarfs, yes as talk to people in the industry it seems more seem to contradict the statement that they are sexually dimorphic.
Thank you for your time and comments; I am just trying to plan for an aquarium that is everything I want it to be re. Visually pleasing and not out-of-my-depth difficult that is also respectful to the included animals it will contain and not have them crowded for space, attacking each other or worse still left starving :-/

Don't say sorry!!

We can all have different opinions as well! There are so many variables as to how a fish will actually act in our tank. Nothing makes me "right" because we are talking about artificial environments and that make all these fools act different

When I match up lions and scorps I think of who will be crawling around on the substrate and who will use the higher areas. Two lions in particular are ground huggers and that's the Fu and cold water species the heterura. They will swim, but that tend to hunker down on the bottom. You'll find though, when you're in the room moving around.... they're all swimmers.... even my Cockatoo that can't swim. Sometimes all it takes is me staring at them for 1/2 a second and they think they're getting fed and they all become synchronized swimmers.

Even if you could sex them with certainty, I wouldn't suggest a male/female pair, but only females. When my pair started breeding, it changed the whole social dynamic of the tank. They turned super mean.