Compatibility guidance

[sweetie_22]

hi i've got a fuzzy dwarf lion fish thats about 1.5 inches, i know it's gonna grow. i also have a spotted manderin goby. i really wanna get a clown fish to go with them, do u think that would work? and i'm also thinking of getting a cleaner shrimp to join the crew. would that be okay?

please reply asap, i'm heading to my lfs tomorrow and i need some advice.

[rileyon]

Lionfish are predators, they'll eat smaller fish, so you might wanna reconsider the clownfish.

[fleeton]

Lionfish will munch on small fish, expensive treats indeed

[sweetie_22]

Are you referring to the cleaner shrimp or the clown fish as the potential food for the lionfish

[fleeton]

all of the above, the shrimp or the clown

[NexusCore]

I think it might work out. The manderin's already in the tank and the lion's only small, so the clown will likely outgrow it. The cleaner shrimp will be similar in size to the lion, but they'll probably just coexist. The cleaner shrimp will do its job, no problem.

[felinxo]

What's your tank size btw

[zenfox8]

I think it might work out. The manderin's already in the tank and the lion's only small, so the clown will likely outgrow it. The cleaner shrimp will be similar in size to the lion, but they'll probably just coexist. The cleaner shrimp will do its job, no problem.

I'm not sure about the cleaner shrimp's size, but are you certain it'll grow to be that large? I've had my fair share of experience with lionfish, and I must say, they're quite the predators. The Dendrochirus blazulipterus, in particular, has that trap-door mouth that's characteristic of the Subfamily Pteroinae and the Family Scorpaenidae. It's more than capable of swallowing prey half its size.

While it's true that cleaner shrimp might not be their go-to snack, let's not forget that lionfish tend to view most motile invertebrates as a tasty treat - at least, until they grow larger. Anything that's not significantly smaller than the lionfish is fair game. You might get lucky for a while, but it only takes one moment of bad luck for the lionfish to enjoy a very expensive meal.

[rileyon]

If you're okay with essentially flushing cash down the drain, be my guest. I recently witnessed a small lionfish devour a fish nearly its own size. I'd wager the mandarin won't last long, either.

[sweetie_22]

my manderin has been fine with the lion for a couple of months so far, so i'm gonna go ahead and get a pair of clowns. if it doesn't work out, i can always move them to my other tank. i've seen vids on youtube of lions and clowns living together just fine, even with a big size difference.