Stocking a 300 predator reef... dwarf lions.

YOYOYOReefer · Jun 6, 2022

So far just a clown trigger and a dragon eel.. thinking about putting in 3 dwarf lions.
anyone see a problem here?

i kept one full sized lion alive 8+years but i dont think this tank is big enough for one.
the dwarfs seem like they would have more room to swim

blaxsun · Jun 6, 2022

Nope. I think 300 gallons is more than enough.

Miami Reef · Jun 6, 2022

I recommend putting the dwarf lion in a QT and feeding it there before adding it to the big tank. I’m assuming you will feed ghost shrimp?

YOYOYOReefer · Jun 6, 2022

ya I QT everything in all my tanks. Ive just never had a tank this small with lions footprint is only 8x2 its 30inches tall.

lion king · Jun 6, 2022

I wouldn't recommend that addition, in captivity fang tooth eels usually dispatch lions because of their perching and slow moving tendencies. The feeding requirements for dwarf lions is also challenging and even more difficult the larger the tank. Many times they may never take to dead food and if they do need to be target fed. Getting them live food with other faster more aggressive predators will prove almost impossible.

YOYOYOReefer · Jun 6, 2022

lion king you think the tank is big enough for a Radiata or Volations ?
this is the smallest predator tank ive set up it seems to narrow at 24 inches.

im see what your saying on the small lions not getting to the ghost shrimp or mollies as quick as the rest

lion king · Jun 6, 2022

The radiata is just barely larger the fuzzy or zebra and can happily live in tanks as small as a 75g, so tank dize is not an issue. The radiata is one of the most challenging lions, rarely ever eating the variety and amount of dead food to sustain. But the bigger issue is that fang tooth eels are lion killers. The volitan would be fine in that tank size and they are easily fed the proper dead foods, but their survival with the eel will be a push at best. I have seen enough lions killed by fang tooth eels to not recommend any lions with a fang tooth.

YOYOYOReefer · Jun 6, 2022

I want the lions more than the eel. i had a big one for many years in my 20s and want one now in my 50s. i can move the eel to my lagoon with the mean fish. If the clown trigger is not good could move him too. I have mollys and ghost shrimp growing out in my basement was plannig to feed if i got dwarfs.

what lions would you go with if wanting 2-3 lions if possible at full size in this tank . im assuming could put maybe tangs and damsels and a snowflake or zebra eel .. The rockwork is tall but limited on purpose with caves on both ends with a small plateau in the middle to leave a good amount of sand a swimming room.. insane filtration so not worried about heavy feeding.

lion king · Jun 6, 2022

If you want to put the focus on the lions, and are willing to commit to feeding the lions, even live if necessary, you can have any lions you want. The volitans are the most agreeable and the fuzzy being the most agreeable dwarf as far as feeding goes. If you click my name and "find all threads", you'll find alot of info on feeding lions and nutrition. The pebbletooth eels work well. The damsels may become food but are also elusive enough they may survive, or at least for a while. I've kept clown triggers with volitans on more than one occasion and several years or more with no issues. Be reminded all fish are individuals and there are many variables.

In a large community tank I do lean more towards recommending the volitan, russell's, or miles. Regardless of others success in getting the dwarf and medium bodied lions to eating dead food, it is never a guarantee. And very rarely do those succeed in getting them to eat the proper dead foods or the amount needed for long success. So trying to feed live food in a large community tank gets very challenging, not impossible, but very challenging. I do have tricks, but it does take effort, it's not just dropping food in the tank. While you will still need to target feed, the larger lions like the volitan take to dead food pretty easily, and will accept the variety of dead foods and eat the amount needed for long term success.

In a 300g you could keep 3 lions of your choosing easily. Lions are actually more social than many think, males may have angst with each other, but in your size tank I don't think there will be issues that get out of hand. Your scape sounds good, lions will enjoy caves and vertical rockwork for perching. While happy lions are more active than many suspect, they do spend alot of time perching, so with multiple lions you do want to provide multiple spots. Here;s my current venom tank.