lionfish

[superluke]

could i keep a viotail (i thinks thats the name) lionfish in a 39x16x20 tank
it will have some liverock maybe a couple of easy to keep corals
thanks all

 

[sweeTang21]

the lion is actually a Volitan, and no, tanks need be much deeper, front to back than 16 inches. if you were to obtain a baby over a mature specimen, it will be possible, but only for a short period of time. Gallon wise, you might be okay. For that type of a tank, roughly 60 gallons, a couple Dwarf Lionfish, like fuzzy dwarfs, etc would work out fine, due to the dimensions of there fins. Watch your coral to be sure, and shrimp and other inverts should be avoided as they will become food. Ensure proper water quality and lighting for the coral are met as well, before purchase of corals.

 

[skene]

That's great advice. I would also recommend a dwarf lion as opposed to a larger specimen, unless your intentions were to start out small. Keep in mind that the tank will need to be fairly large for lions as their fin span expand and the potential size of the fish may not rapidly outgrow that tank, but width wise it will.
At the minimum a large lion will need a 24" wide tank.

 

[reefkeeper]

yea just get a dwarf,they are just as nice.

 

[Taboojen]

I agree. Dwarfs are awesome. Very personable. I use to have one until it jumped out of the tank one weekend I was not home. So sad.. it would come and beg for food too. I kept one in my 39 gal tank, with live rock and some soft coral.