lionfish question

[jweed9379]

I had a volitan before and we all know they are one of the biggest breeds of lions but this question is more related to the smaller of the breeds, if i were to purchase an antennata or a dwarf zebra for my reef being that they both only grow to 7" do you think they would be capable of eating fish that are all around 3"? And also do they have the same type of temperament? I love lions and would like to get one but if its going to for sure eat my other fish then i will stick with getting an eel due to it being less of a chance at losing fish

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I would say that the probability of it eating 3" fish is 99% certain that it would happen. I had a fuzzy dwarf that was a juvi housed with a clown and it tried to eat the clown. It had the clown's tail sticking out of its mouth. I had to scare the lion to get it to spit the clown out. This is after a few clown experts said I would have at least a year until there would be issues. I separated them shortly after the incident.

 

[jweed9379]

See thats the only thing im worried about is our clowns...i mean dont get my wrong our damsels add a lot of color to our tank but the fancy ocellaris pair that we have are a little more pricey lol...its just hard to believe that a 7" fish would have a moth large enough to consume a 3" fish

 

[rayn]

Believe it, their mouths are huge! Scorps have the ability to extend their jaws and they also "enlarge", for lack of better term, to engulf their prey.

Different species, but still a scorp, I have a plumieri that is 6" that ate a 4" mozambique.

 

[jweed9379]

I guess i should have figured so, my volitan i had would take out medium size comets at only 2 months old

 

[rayn]

Sit and watch some time you have time, wait for it to yawn. Then you will know.

 

[tyler1503]

See thats the only thing im worried about is our clowns...i mean dont get my wrong our damsels add a lot of color to our tank but the fancy ocellaris pair that we have are a little more pricey lol...its just hard to believe that a 7" fish would have a moth large enough to consume a 3" fish

Not a scorpion, but angler fish can eat fish larger than themselves. There's a video on YouTube of an angler eating a flounder twice the size of the angler.
A dwarf lion might be ok if the clowns are fully grown, but if they're still small I wouldn't risk it.