will a small Volitan Lionfish eat these fish?

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bomber88

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 10, 2008
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Newfoundland Canada
At one of my lfs they have a very small Volitan Lionfish only about 2 -2.5 inc big. I have a 77 gl bowfront with a regal tang about 3 inc, a gold strip maroon clown about 3 inc, and 3 green/blue chromis all around 2 inc big. the tank that the lion fish is in also has a samll Flame Hawkfish def not bigger then my chromis. The lion fish doen't even seam to care about the hawkfish. The lfs has the lion eating flake, peltes, and frozen brine shrimp. They said he might do alight in my tank it i keep him well fed?
what do you guys think?? also the chromis are very fast and seam to be the bullys in my tank so how do you think they would do?
 
Well first, a 77gal stocked with fish/rock is going to be too small once this guy gets growing so you would need to take that into consideration prior to purchase. Secondly, no he would not eat any of those at this time, as they are all too big for him at this point. That does not guarantee their fate as he grows however.
And Chromis are territorial by nature, and being that he is so small right now, they could prove to be jerks, however one thing that can help alleviate aggression in territorial runts like these guys, is to re-arrange the rock/plants/etc. within the tank to disrupt any pre-established territories, and then add the new stock.
Keeping an aggressive carnivore well fed is always a huge factor in the life-span of tank mates, however, it simply is not a guarantee. It is good that they have him accepting flake/frozen food, as this will make keeping him full much easier, but you should consider backing off the flakes and pellets a bit and offering more frozen/fresh items along with the brine shrimp to ensure a varied diet rich in the fats and vitamins necessary for these guys (if you have already purchased him).
 
no i haven't purchased him yet. I am just trying to find out a few more things befor i decied if i will get him or not. As for tank size i plan on getting a 125 in the next year or 2. I am living at home and my mom won't let me buy a bigger tank.

are lion fish fast growers?

Thanks!
 
keeping him well fed will help, but remember the lion will not lose it's predatory instinct, and I have personally never seen a lion that was not hungry, regardless of how much it is fed, incidentally this is usually what kills captive lions. If you keep a lion well fed but not over fed that 3" fish will likely be 10" in a year, and 12-15" by 2 years. At 15" a fully grown volitan would be ok in a 125 as but a wider tank such as a 180 would be ideal.
 
the tang and clowfish (when the clown is bigger) will be safe but the chromis and hawk are sitting ducks
 
Dude all of those fish will eventually be eaten lionfish especially a volitan have been known to eat fish almost their size. If you do plan on getting the volitan in the future go with a possible combo of a snowflake eel or some species of triggerfish. there are also many other combinations check out www.saltwaterfish.com they have a good compatibility chart
 
triggers just love to nip at lions..

a cheetah's about human size..
if i was hungary enough i would eat one..

i just have to catch it ;) *hint* *hint*
 
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