Question on adding freshwater Lionfish.

[bicyclekick69]

I was surfing the web and saw one of these beauties. They say it needs salt in the water which my tank definatley has a lot of. All of my cichlids in my 135gal tank (30-35) Are around 5in-7in Soo......I was at the lfs today and saw one:eek: I had to have him.. I no i no prob not a good idea BUT the knoledgeable lfs manager told me that he WILL do fine in that size tank with that size fish.. ALSO, i need more info on this great fish. What should i feed. I dont want to start on live foods b/c too many risks and costs. Any help/comments. Thanks:sygypsy:

[aharris]

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/batrachoididae.htm

Here's one link I found. Looks to me like you need at least a brackish tank for him. He's also poisonous and can get big.

[bicyclekick69]

CAN I GET SOME MORE INFO AND NOT JUST LINKS. I WANT 1ST HAND INFO OR JUST GENERAL INFO...ALSO THANKS AHARRIS FOR THE QUICK AND INFORMATIVE REPLY..

[aharris]

The link contained general info. I'm not sure hwat else you were looking for, and you may be searching on the wrong forum for this type of fish when it comes to firsthand XP. Try doing a Google for a brackish water forum.

http://php.indiana.edu/~pdmckinn/Brackish/brackish.html

[Snausy]

I wanna hear the "croaking" noises!!! That sounds cool but I wouldn't get one of these unless I had a BIG brackish tank with puffers and archerfish. I used to have a brackish but it was only a 50 and that wouldn't be nearly big enough for these guys.

What are you going to do if it spikes you? At the ER "I got stabbed by my toadfish doc" LOL Sounds like alot of trouble for a cool lookin moving rock in your tank. ;)

[Photorah]

Beware Of the LFS While We get some good advice and knowledge and not all LFS are this way But Advice it is often overclouded by the prospect of selling a expensive fish when a sale is brewing do some research then go back if you fell it will work out.

[abenez]

by the way - venemous is more correct vs. poisonous...

[Snausy]

Originally posted by abenez
by the way - venemous is more correct vs. poisonous...

Meaning ....one will make you PAY if you try to eat them...the other stabs you and makes you PAY while you are just trying to net a tankmate? FRIGGIN TOADFISH GOT ME!!! EVERYTHING IS GETTING DARK....AHHHHhhhhhhhh(gurgle sounds).

Hell man I don't even want a fish that can bite me hard. LOL

:wink:

[Rudy]

I have one in a freshwater tank. I have had no problems. I have heard they did not do well unless in brackish, but mine does fine. It is in a 25 by itself with a piece of driftwood and the driftwood is more interesting to watch. :)

It eats earthworms from my hand, but other than that it hides and I don't expect that to change. I like it as it is an interesting fish, but I wouldn't add it to a community tank. You would be much better off with something else. Ever thought about bichers, or cats?

[neglected]

what is the ph for one of these ?

[agez]

Hi guys!
these fish are VERY common and native here in Australia....
i think i can help with the first hand info as i helped a friend rear one from 10cm upto around 9inch and have seen plenty of them everywhere from wild to stores.

this fish is brackish to full marine, they are found VERY close to if not IN the OCEAN.
they will survive as young in fresh to brackish conditions, but will surely stunt and die as young adults to adults (youll notice the extremem light/dark/or sometimes patchy coloration when they are suffering) in perfect conditions this fish will be out and about constantly and display a smoothe terracotta complexion.

In poor conditions this fish will hide ALLL day and display mottled or light/dark coloring (depending on Ph of whether its light or dark)

ideal ph is 7.8-8.4, this fish will snap at ALL your tankmates overnight, but will generally leave anything 20% bigger than it alone (same size fish arent safe).

This isnt a tankbuster or evil guapote, but it is hungry, and doesnt have the BEST eyesight!!!!!

also it is a toad fish or frog fish, not a freshwater lion, there is no such beast (no offence just trying to give as much info as i can dude!!!)

it is poisonous (not venomous) but can not secrete its own poison without the aid of a moron---
--this fish is a unique design, it has poison sacks similar to a cane toad on its sides and back, however the poison can only be administered by the sharp spine (like a hard mohawk) on its back, unlike the marine lion with its syringe like weapons, the toadfish can only poison via PRESSURE!!!!!

BASICLY_ you must step on it or slap its back or press down firmly on it for the poison to break out of the membrane and travel through its spinal vents into the poor silly victim.

make sence?

the poison will not kill you, (although you hear stories that it has killed) but will make you VERY sick, you should go straight to a hospital and stick the poisoned limb straight into HOT HOT HOT water ASAP if not immediately at least within 15- 20 mins, (not scalding, but as close to as you can) this "cooks" and dissapates the poison rendering it ineffective and deconstructed.

hope this helps man.