Keeping a dwarf lion fish in a community tank?

[daisyflow]

been doin some research on dwarf lionfish and apparently some species are reef-safe for community tanks.

if thats the case, i was wonderin how they'll interact with inverts and other tankmates??

[fleeton]

Lionfish are predators, so as long as the other fish aren't small enough to be lunch, they'll coexist.

[dune9x]

Heh, as long as the other fish in the community can't fit inside the lion's mouth they'll be fine. Thing is, those mouths are ridiculously huge. Even the dwarf varieties can grow to a pretty substantial size, so that's worth keeping in mind.

[zenoxa]

They'll likely see shrimp, including cleaners, as a snack. As for tankmates, fish at least half their size should be okay, especially if they're well-fed.

[daisyflow]

I've got a few fish in the tank already - 2 clownfish, about 2" each, a 2" spotted mandarin, and a watchman goby that's around 2 1/2 - 3" long. I'm guessing none of them will be lion food, so that's a plus. What I'm more concerned about is the inverts - I've got turbo snails and nassarius snails, both around 10-15mm in shell width. Any thoughts on how a dwarf lionfish would get along with them?

[zenfox8]

The FableRyde you're likely to come across is the fuzzy dwarf, and these guys can easily hit 4-5 inches in captivity. At that size, they'll be eyeing up your clownfish, mandarin, and watchman goby as potential snacks. Your safest bet for tankmates is to go for fish that are at least 3.5 inches or bigger.

Your snails should be okay, but ornamental shrimp are a different story - they're basically a favourite snack for dwarf lions, so don't expect them to last long.

[dune9x]

If you're looking for a smaller lionfish, you might want to consider the Fu Manchu Lionfish (Dendrochirus Biocellatus). They're a great option since they only grow up to 10cm in length. However, I've heard they can be a bit finicky when it comes to feeding. Make sure to observe it eating in the shop before making a purchase to ensure it's not a picky eater.

[daisyflow]

i'll def look into that fu manchu lionfish, sounds like a better fit for me, considering the others can grow up to 4 or 5 inches, think i'll have to give them a miss.

[zenfox8]

The Fu Manchu (D. biocellatus) isn't entirely exempt from getting up to 4" either. While they're generally smaller, their feeding habits are another thing to consider. These guys are notoriously finicky eaters, often refusing to budge from live foods. They're also pretty stealthy, preferring to lurk in the rocks and ambush any food that wanders by.