Lionfish SpeciesOverview

Lionfish are agroup of eye-catching saltwater fish known for their zebra-striped bodies andlong dorsal spines. This care sheet outlines basic care needs for a variety ofpet lionfish species, including:

• Dwarf zebra lionfish

• Fuzzy dwarf lionfish

• Antennata lionfish

• Volitan lionfish

• Radiata lionfish

• Fu Manchu lionfish

• Mombasa lionfish

Lionfish havevenomous dorsal spines that can deliver a painful sting. While lionfish stingsusually aren’t fatal, some people are allergic to the sting’s venom.

Lionfish stingscan lead to a variety of symptoms, such as swelling, redness, pain, shortnessof breath, and numbness. Anyone stung by a lionfish should monitor theirsymptoms and consult a medical professional for help.

Though visuallystunning, lionfish are considered an invasive species in the Caribbean Sea andalong the East Coast of the United States. Increasing lionfish populations havedisrupted food chains in local marine ecosystems. For this reason, lionfish areillegal to own in the state of Florida.

Lionfish are notvery active swimmers and are not considered an aggressive species. However,they may try to eat other fish and marine invertebrates that can fit into theirwide mouths.

LionfishCharacteristics

Lionfish SupplyChecklist

To keep a petlionfish happy and healthy, pet parents should have these basic supplies onhand:

• Appropriate-sized     aquarium

• Appropriate     food, dry and frozen

• Decor

• Marine     aquarium salt

• Marine     substrate

• Water     conditioner

• Filter

• Water test kit

• Full-spectrum     lighting

• Net

• Protein     skimmer

• Thermometer

• Heater

• Refractometer

• Aquarium rocks

• Aquarium     hood/cover

Lionfish Habitat

Choosing the RightEnclosure

At a minimum, asingle juvenile pet lionfish needs a 29-gallon tank or larger. Pet parents willneed to increase the size of their tank as their fish grows.   

A single adultpet lionfish from a smaller species, including dwarf lionfish, should be housedin at least a 55-gallon tank. Larger species, like the Volitan, can reachlengths of over 15” in adulthood and will need at least a 120-gallon aquariumwhen fully grown.

All aquariumsmust be secured with a fitted lid or canopy to prevent your pet fish fromattempting to escape and getting injured. Always provide the largest habitatpossible.

SelectingTankmates

While lionfishare generally solitary, some species can be housed together in small groups ofother lionfish if all the fish are around the same size and the aquarium islarge enough. Fu Manchu lionfish are highly aggressive with each other andshould only be kept one Fu Manchu to a tank.

Lionfish canlive harmoniously with other species of saltwater fish that are of similar sizeor larger, including:

• Groupers

• Large marine angelfish

• Foxface/rabbitfish

• Butterflyfish

• Tangs

Pet lionfishshould not be housed in the same aquarium as slow-moving or small tank mates,including:

• Puffers

• Seahorses

• Clownfish

• Marine invertebrates

Lionfish arecarnivorous and may try to eat any tank mates that are small enough to fit intotheir wide mouths.   

New tank matesmust be introduced to an aquarium gradually, and pet parents should rememberthat their tank’s ammonia, pH, and nitrate levels will change when a new fishis introduced. These parameters need to be monitored carefully after adding newfish.   

Fish should notbe kept in overcrowded aquariums, as these conditions often lead to stress anddisease in the tank.

Filtration

A filter system is anessential addition to any aquatic habitat. In addition to keeping tanks clean,filters remove harmful toxins like ammonia from the aquarium's water and addoxygen to the water so fish can breathe.   

Power filters(also known as “hang-on-back" filters) and external canister filters arerecommended because they offer effective mechanical, biological, and chemicalfiltration and do not take up any space inside an aquarium. Lionfish preferwater with slow to moderate circulation.

Tip: An aquarium’sfilter should be powerful enough to process all the water in the tank at leastfour times an hour. For example, a 20-gallon tank should ideally have anaquarium filter with a flow rate that’s at least 80 gallons per hour (GPH). Ifonly a 50 or 100 GPH filter is available, pet parents should always size up andpurchase the 100 GPH option.   

WaterHealth   

Pet parentsshould test their aquarium’s water regularly to ensure its pH, ammonia,nitrate, and nitrite levels are stable and within a safe range. An aquarium test kit can beused to measure key water parameters quickly and accurately. A protein skimmer can alsobe used to maintain the tank’s water quality.

Temperature

Lionfish prefer warm water temperaturesfrom 74 to 80 F. The water’s temperature should not fluctuate more than 2degrees up or down in 24 hours.   

Pet parents should install an aquaticheater that’s controlled with a thermostat in their aquarium to keep thewater’s temperature in the ideal range. An aquarium thermometer should be usedto check the tank’s water temperature daily.

When selecting a heater for their tank, petparents should keep a few things in mind:

·       Some modern heaters have built-in thermostats, while others needto be paired with a thermostat that’s purchased separately.

·       As a rule of thumb, aquarium heaters need between 2.5 and 5watts of power for every gallon of water in a tank. This means that a 10-gallontank needs a 25- to 50-watt heater.

Larger aquariums with a tank volume over 50gallons may need two small heaters, placed on opposite sides of the tank, toprevent cold spots from developing in the water.

Decorand Accessories

Substrate

Lionfish aren’t strong swimmers and tend to“hop” along the floor of their tank. The bottom of a pet lionfish’s tank shouldbe lined with 1–2 inches of a soft substrate, such as aragonite sand or crushedcoral.

Avoid gravel—it can be too rough for alionfish’s delicate fins.

Lionfish Cleaning and Maintenance

Pet parents can maintain the condition of their lionfish’s tankby performing routine water changes (no more than 10–25% of the aquarium’stotal water volume) every two to four weeks. Uneaten food should be removedfrom an aquarium daily with the help of a fine mesh net.

Draining and replacing the aquarium'sentire water volume should be avoided, as doing so will remove the beneficialbacteria in the tank that keep the habitat’s ecosystem healthy.

Most aquariums need a full cleaning once amonth, depending on the number of fish/invertebrates in the tank. Followthese step-by-step instructions on how to clean an aquarium.

Lionfish Diet and Nutrition

Lionfish are primarily carnivorous and should be fed a varieddiet of frozen meaty foods (including silversides, krill, and squid) andfreeze-dried krill. To stay healthy, pet lionfish need variety in their dietand should not be fed the same food every day.

Tip: If a petlionfish is hesitant to eat prepared foods, pet parents may need to start byfeeding live foods and gradually transition to frozen food and freeze-driedkrill.   

Lionfish need to be fed one to two timesper day (depending on size/species) and should not be offered more food thanthey can consume within 1–2 minutes. Frozen foods must be thawed beforefeeding.

Remember: Pet parentsshould never use a microwave to thaw or warm frozen food, and never offer foodthat's still frozen to a pet. Frozen food that is not consumed should never berefrozen for future use, as this encourages bacteria to form in the food.

Considerations for Lionfish

·       Pet parents should change 10–25% of the total volume of theiraquarium’s water every two to four weeks, or more often if needed.   

·       Newly added water should be at the same temperature and have thesame salinity (salt concentration) as the existing water in the tank.

·       After a new fish/invertebrate or new equipment is added to anaquarium, it’s important to test the tank water’s quality once a week for atleast two months to ensure that its pH, nitrite, ammonia, nitrate, carbonate,and general hardness levels are in the ideal range.   

·       If the tests’ results are safe and consistent after two months,pet parents can decrease water testing to once a month.

·       Water test kits expire and should be replacedyearly.   

An aquarium’s filter, water temperature, and other equipmentshould be checked daily to ensure they’re working properly. Filter media shouldbe replaced monthly or rinsed in old tank water during water changes, dependingon the water condition and the number of fish/invertebrates in the tank.

Pet parents should follow the use, care,and maintenance instructions provided by the manufacturer of their filtersystem.   

Do not use hot water, bleach, or chemicalswhile rinsing filter media. This will kill the beneficial bacteria that helpskeep aquatic habitats safe, clean, and stable.   

Avoid replacing all the filtration media inan aquarium at the same time, as this can also remove beneficial bacteria fromthe tank.

Lionfish Veterinary Care

Annual Care

In a properly maintained tank ofappropriate size, if you perform your own water quality tests and water changesweekly it is OK to consult with a veterinarian only if you believe there is aproblem with your pet lionfish. When having your lionfish assessed, it is bestto use a mobile, aquatics-specialized veterinarian who can assess them fromwithin or near their tank, due to difficulties transporting a fish of thissize. It can also be dangerous to handle these fish and should only beattempted by trained specialists.

Signs of a Healthy Lionfish

·       Bright coloration

·       Full range of fin motion, equal on both sides

·       Intact fins and spines all the way to the edges with nodiscoloration

·       Regular, upright swim pattern, may not be very active

·       Large appetite

When to Call a Vet

·       Changes to coloration – particularly becoming dull, or focalspots of change

·       White growths/spots

·       Gill color changes, usually pale or red

·       Lethargic swimming, potentially with an abnormal pattern such ascircling, listing to the side, or staying on the top or bottom of the tank

·       Receding fin edges with or without discoloration at the edges

·       Decreased appetite for more than a day

·       Itching

·       Rapid breathing, potentially with flared gills

·       Presence of lumps/bumps/masses

·       Bloated appearance with scales flared outward instead of layingflat

·       Bulging eyes, with or without a color change

Common Illnesses in Lionfish

Most lionfish illnesses are secondary towater quality deficiencies. These illnesses can include:

·       Fin rot

·       Saltwater ich

·       Parasites

·       Bacterial infections

·       Pop eye

·       Fungal, oral, or skin infections

·       Swim bladder disorders

Lionfish FAQs

Can you have a lionfish as a pet?

These gorgeous fish can definitely be kept as pets (except inFlorida), though they are best kept only by experienced aquarists.

What size tank do I need for a lionfish?

This varies by lionfish species, as they can vary from about 5to 15 inches long. Tanks as small as 55 gallons are appropriate for dwarflionfish, but larger species often require tanks over 100 gallons.

Can you keep two lionfish together?

This is possible, but it requires very large tank sizes. It’soften best to keep different species of lionfish rather than several from onespecies.

Why is it illegal to own lionfish?

Lionfish are illegal to own in Florida because they have had asignificantly negative affect on the marine ecosystem of the Caribbean. Nativeto the Pacific and Indian oceans, lionfish populations have exploded in theCaribbean due to a lack of natural predators.

What is the lifespan of a lionfish?

Lionfish can live up to about 10–15 years, though this varies byspecies.