Is A Lionfish A Good Option For My Saltwater Tank?

Lots of beginner saltwater aquarium enthusiasts find fish that are exotic and pretty, and they make the mistake of deciding that these fish are right for them! Usually, people end up making this decision when the fish they are looking at is more exotic and more beautiful than any of the fish around it. But what these beginners fail to realize is that these “more beautiful and exotic” fish are often also more difficult to care for!

One of the most beautiful and exotic of all saltwater fish, and a prize in any aquarium, is the lionfish – whose proper name, actually, is the scorpionfish. And you need not look any further than the reason why these fish are not great for beginners to understand why their proper name is the scorpionfish. In addition to making them look so attractive in an aquarium, the long spines of the lionfish are also able to give a highly venomous sting! And if you simply put one into a tank without knowing as much about them as you should, you may end up getting stung yourself!

If you feel that you have been running a saltwater tank long enough to handle a lionfish without getting stung, here are a few other things you should know about them.

You should not keep a lionfish with crustaceans or with small fish, as they are meat eaters – and they usually prefer their food to be live! If you buy a lionfish that is still young, you will usually be able to train them to eat frozen foods such as clams, shrimp, and brine.

Your lionfish will also need a lot of room, and you should not add one to your tank unless you have a tank that is at least 75 gallons – preferably larger. Also, the lionfish does most of its hunting and swimming at night, so you are unlikely to see a whole lot of them!

Your lionfish will be extremely hardy, and will also be a good tank mate as long as you keep them in a big enough tank with big enough fish. But make sure (for your own safety!) that you know as much about them as you possibly can before you choose to add one to your tank.