55 gallon predator options as fish

[fishboy10]

this setup is probably on its way somewhere down the road in a long time but are there any puffers eels lionfish triggers suitable for such a tank and if lionfish how do you clean the tank without being stung

 

[rayn]

Any of the medium body lions are fine. Radiata, mombasae, zebra, or any of the dwarfs. How many is up to your filteration. You could do a couple bottom dwellers as well such as a cockatoo or small scorpion fish.

Not getting stung is just being observant and knowing your fish. Mine usually just swam away, knowing I wasn't going to hurt them. If they feel threatened they will present their spines in a manner to warn you off.

Gonna tag in @Lionfish Lair here too. She is a queen on lions and scorps

 

[fishboy10]

eels triggers or puffers work too?

 

[tj w]

Some of the smaller species may work short term

 

[FeliciaLynn]

Pufferfish definitely don't work with lionfish since they will eat the lionfish's fins. In my 40B I have several of the dwarf lionfish species and a small snowflake eel. I know the eel will eventually outgrow my tank, but he's small now and he's grown over the last 8 months, but not that much. Any of the dwarf lionfish species (fuzzy, zebra, Fu Manchu) would do great in your 55 gallon. The medium bodied, like an antennata would be fine as well.

My lionfish are never aggressive, so as long as I pay attention to where they are while I'm working in the tank, there's no risk of being stung. I also wear very thick, over the elbow gloves when I'm doing a lot of work in the tank, like messing with the scape, placing corals, or fragging. That way I can't accidentally bump into a lionfish spine while I'm working. Honestly, if you're careful and pay attention, you are very unlikely to get stung.