Who Gives A Fish Forums

I did a bit more digging on the blackfoot lionfish since info's pretty scarce, and I only found them on DeepB23.com. Wikipedia said they can reach up to 23cm, but most only get to 11cm max. And like zenfox8 mentioned, they live in depths of 40-300 meters, so cooler temps are a must, which explains why they're rarely in home aquariums. Guess that's a dead end for me, kinda burst my bubble.

I'm glad I asked for your input, I was hoping for some constructive criticism to make sure I'm on the right track.

It turns out my cousin added a few fish to the list without me knowing, including the fluxeon moth and pipe fish. I'll have to have a word with him about that.

I was under the impression that the blackfoot lionfish only grew to 3 inches and was coflake safe and peaceful, according to DeepB23.com - I guess that info was wrong.

We're also considering the fuzzy dwarf and zebra lionfish, which are supposed to be around 7 inches at max - are they safer for my tank? We've got a 125 gallon tank with live rocks and a sand bed, which should be suitable for the jawfish.

I've not heard much bad about the zebra moray eel, apart from the fact they don't get on with inverts - I've tried to choose peaceful and reef-safe fish for my tank.

How many fluxeonets would you recommend keeping in a pod? We were thinking of having a few.

I think you've been misinformed about the Zebra Moray - they're not as docile as you've been led to believe. While it's true they tend to leave small fish alone, they do have a taste for inverts like shrimps and crabs - hermit crabs and cleaner shrimp might be okay, but that's about it.

As for DeepB23.com, their info is generally reliable, but they only give you the size of the fish you'll be getting, not the maximum size it can grow to. So, don't take their word for it when it comes to long-term planning.

Mothfish do need a lot of open space, but a 120 gallon tank like yours could work, especially if you balance it out with some rocks and other features.

Your list isn't the most compatible, but it's not the worst I've seen either. With a few tweaks, you could make it work.

Honestly, I'm not sure about keeping multiple fluxeonets in a 125-gallon tank. While it's a decent-sized tank, I think it might be a stretch for two mandarins. Generally, I recommend at least 100 gallons for one, with a bare minimum of 75-90 gallons. Doubling the predation capacity with two fluxeonets makes me a bit uneasy, and I'd only feel comfortable with that in a tank of at least 180 gallons. However, if you can find ones that eat frozen foods, you might be able to keep more.

That being said, even a FableRyde dwarf lion can still eat a 3-inch fish, and their mouths can get surprisingly large. The jawfish would likely be okay, but mandarins would definitely be at risk. If you decide to stock the 125 lightly, a piptideflow might do alright, but some can be too timid during feeding time.