Am I Playing With Fire?

[John Hamilton]

I saw a small 3” Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish at a LFS. Man I really want one but I’m not sure if it would become a problem. I need some advice on this and here is a list of what I already have.

• Six Dwarf Angels; Fire, Lemon Peel, Coral Beauty, Potters, Rusty and ½ black.
• Royal Gramma
• Spotted Hawk
• Two each Fiji and Yellow Tail Damsels
• Four Green Chromis
• Bi Color Blenny
• Banded Goby
• Maroon Clown
• Six Line Wrasse
• Mandrin Goby

[wozza]

well as long as its adult size is smaller than all of your fish ide say you would be fine.
i have a dwarf spotfin lion 2.5" in with a percula clown 2.5" and a blenny 3" and he doesnt bother them. oh and if you have any shrimp that are small enough to fit in his mouth ide say there preety much gonners.

they are not aggressive fish and not great swimmers so if any of your other fish are a tad smaller than him but they are fast then they MAY be ok, but then ide say you would be playing with fire.

[John Hamilton]

Yeah, I'm gonna have to pass on it and exercise the willpower to not add any more livestock.

[wozza]

lol yeah willpower, i need some of that stuff to!

[Leonard]

As long as the other fish is bigger than the lionfish's mouth, its ok.

[CSeaSee]

As long as the other fish is bigger than the lionfish's mouth, its ok.

The problem with this is that Lionfish can unhinge their jaws, letting their mouths become much bigger than an aquarist may initially realize. And as the lionfish grows (which it will), so will their mouth.

[angelfishman]

the small lionfish are usually ok,but if the fish will fit in his mouth then he will eat them.derek