Howdy!
Hope you are doing well! Welcome in a such a beautiful day! In a beautiful day, I am back with a beautiful topic! Haven’t talked about saltwater tanks for a long time right!
Okay no more waiting! I am back with another saltwater fishtank set-up!
But let me introduce you to our today’s guest! Today’s our guest is not an easy fish to keep. Mainly people fears this fish because of it’s venomous fins! A deadly territorial fish with an attractive appearance! People loves the way they look but because of the danger of venom, people fears this fish a lot!
So let’s not waste any bit of time and introduce you guys to our todays guest
The Lionfish
Media error: Format(s) not supported or source(s) not found
Download File: https://insideaquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/10020447-hd_720_1280_60fps-1.mp4?_=1So our guest lionfish is basically
is a saltwater fish which is often found in tropical area’s where the water temperature lies in between 23 to 27 degree. It is a fish with a beautiful appearance and long fins which is seen as like as knife! Mainly lionfish is a venomous fish which is often known for it’s venom which has enough ability to harm people or other predators! It’s a slow moving fish which swims slowly and often seen inside or near reef rocks as they are not much seen while day time. You will mostly see them coming out of the reefs when the environment get’s darker. Mostly they are known as nocturnal Predators! So question arises that why this lionfish are so popular in aquarium world?
Why they are sold really expensive?
Well I had this same question like you do! So I started to research about this fishes, read articles, watched youtube videos and tried to learn more about this venomous predators!
Well I found out a lot!
Lionfish is a saltwater fish which has
an appearance like a territorial fish which has some species which can grow up-to a really large size needing up-to 120 gallons. Also there are some small species which will grow lot less in comparison and could be settled into a 50 gallon tank!
So there are various options to choose from in the aquarium world. But what about the nature?
In the nature they are thought to be invasive species which is often refered to be killed but the divers or other people working with or for the ocean!
You might as why there is an order of killing such a fish which is this much of a beautiful and are so famous in aquarium world?
Well this lion fishes has an incredible ability of reproduction which can cross up-to a really remarkable number! A female grown lionfish can lay up-to 2 million eggs per year!
Can you imagine the quantity? Two million eggs! Which also indicates to the time of their reproduction which is during the whole year! Yes they can continue their reproduction system during the whole year! Which makes the population growth of this fishes up-to a really large number. As this fishes are venomous, they can cause harm for the people living near the ocean or people visiting the ocean. Their venom is really dangerous.
I have seen so many videos where
people have killed this fishes. Another useful way of reducing their population which has been recommended by the scientist is the human consumption of this fishes! But I don’t think that eating this dangerous venomous fish will be a good option! But because of their vastly growing population, they are being caught in a large number by the divers! But also a question might arise inside your mouth!
If this fishes are slow swimmers and easy to catch, how can they stay safe in the ecosystem with such a vibrant color?
Doesn’t it makes them the center of attraction to other fishes?
Well it does obviously but fishes that tries to consume them often falls in a problem. As this fishes are venomous, other fish trying to swallow them often faces the dangerous venoms of this fishes. Which is a defense mechanism for this fishes!
Well this has been about the wild. Now what about the aquarium life of this fishes? Well lionfish is really popular in aquarium hobby. People pay’s a really expensive price while buying this exotic fish! Mostly lionfish loves to live near corals. You can add live coral’s or you can add rocks which will looks similar to corals.
This venomous fish are loves
to hide themselves inside rocks. Their tank size will be in a recommended size of 100 liters. Smaller than this will work but it’s good to stay at a safe place right?
This fishes are territorial fish and the more they will grow the more they will be territorial. Before they start fighting with other fishes, it will be good to increase the tank size! This fishes are carnivorous fish which will try to eat anything that fit’s in their mouth! Small vertebrates or small fishes. It is recrded that they sometimes eats their small ones. So it is not wise option to keep any small fish with them. Fishes that will grow along with them will be a good option. Such as clownfish or blue tang.
If you even think of keeping smaller fish with them, it will be a huge mistake.
The temperature will be nicer if it’s kept in between 23 to 27 degree Celsius and the pH level will be good at 8. And for the premium experience, I will recommend the water to be premium saltwater mixture from your local fish store. You can also make saltwater buy yourself but often what happens is that they mixture is not properly made which can harm your fish. So recommendation will be to get a premium water mix.
And another important factor while building a saltwater tank is that saltwater tanks takes more time than a freshwater tank to get cycled! It will take the tank to get cycled in around 45 to 50 days as far my experience says!
So give that time before adding any fish!
Whooh long talk right? Well I believe that’s enough for today, will meet with another topic tomorrow with you guys!
Till then stay safe and keep your loving pets safe!