Preditor tank stocking?

[KAhner]

I'm thinking about doing a preditor reef tank in a few months. Well maybe like 6 months. Anyways Im going to use a 55 gal. I'm thinking an angler, snowflake eel, and one maybe two lion fish? Will lions fight? The fish will be max adult size 5-6 inches. Is this rediculously overstocked? And these guys won't eat snails and hermits will they?

 

[Bige]

I think that sounds cool although I don't have experience with any of those fish. Seems tight in that size tank but I am predatory expert.

 

[Patrick93]

Little bigger like a 4ft tank would be better (80-90 gallons) everyone loves room

 

[KAhner]

The 55g is four foot, and I already have it just sitting in a garage. More room would be nice. I just thought it might not be too bad because none of these guys r real active swimmers. And I prob wont have a whole lot of LR, maybe 50lbs. I'll prob just go with one lion though. R lion fish aggressive to there own kind?

 

[BallinCrew10]

Lions and anglers are very aggressive. They'll both eat whatever they can fit in their mouth. Also, unless you're planning on a dwarf lionfish the volitans can grow to over a foot long. A dwarf should work with an angler as long as they're both about the same size.

 

[KAhner]

I know they will eat anything they can. But to me that don't equal agressive. I consider territorial fish to be aggresive, or something like a goby that don't like another just cause he looks like him. I consider clowns to be pretty agressive, but a angler is like a big dumb ofe, that just stuffs it's face. And yea I woul definately get a dwarf lion. I was just wondering if they were aggressive twards other lion fish, like angel fish are twards each other.

 

[BallinCrew10]

I know they will eat anything they can. But to me that don't equal agressive. I consider territorial fish to be aggresive, or something like a goby that don't like another just cause he looks like him. I consider clowns to be pretty agressive, but a angler is like a big dumb ofe, that just stuffs it's face. And yea I woul definately get a dwarf lion. I was just wondering if they were aggressive twards like fish, like an angel fish or something.

Clowns can be territorially aggressive. However if a clown attempts to be territorially aggressive, and it gets eaten, who's the aggressor in that situation lol.

Fish the same size or larger than both the lion and angler should be ok. I believe multiple lions can be kept.

 

[KAhner]

I would still call the clown the aggressor. If some little punk came up on ya outa nowhere talking smack and started swinging wildly on ya, and you gave him the old one punch ko, I would say he was being the aggressive one. Just my opinion. Thanks for the answer

 

[BallinCrew10]

LA does list them as peaceful, though I think that's because they don't actively seek their prey. Either way, not like you're putting small fish with it. It's a very unique fish and should make a nice addition.

 

[tbarcomb]

I'd maybe only go with one lion fish. And the others listed just cause the bio load on the tank is going to be pretty heavy and if u aren't trying to have to do weekly water changes I'd make sure u have a heavy duty filter system on the tank

 

[wvanderborg]

Is a 55 really big enough for a snowflake? I only ask because I'm going to set up a 55 fowlr and I wanted to do 1 snowflake and maybe 3-5 leopard (avocado) puffers.

 

[BallinCrew10]

Yes a 55 is big enough for a snowflake. You'll need a good protein skimmer to have 3 puffers as they're messy eaters.

 

[crister13]

The snowflake will be OK, I having owned one, wouldnt put one in ANYTHING less than a 75g. Just get one lion. BTW this is the stuff I love, predator reefs. WOO!!!!!

 

[AusAaron]

I recently picked up a snowflake and currently have him in a small tank until my other one is set up. He seems to b fine. Doesnt come out of rocks too often but when he does its for a quick couple laps then gone. I think you'll b fine. Just put a heap of caves to occupy him

 

[FTMMWS]

Anglers and lions are not aggressive ,,they are opportunistic eaters...
I'm not sure how a lion and angler would work together though..Whichever one is bigger will likely eat the smaller one..I have always wanted to add a lion to my angler tank ,but I don't think its a good idea.My angler now eats 2 inch chromis and the big scallops

 

[huma-huma]

The reason for larger size tanks for the lion family is not because of overall size or style of swimming, its because of their body style..more particularly their long fins, they are wide as heck and need decent room to comfortably move about. My 6" volitan was every bit of 8" wide considering his fins. I personally wouldn't house any combo consisting of a lion in a 55.. lion/angler in a 55 will most likely cause issues

 

[BallinCrew10]

Anglers maybe, but I would disagree about a lion being opportunistic. Crabs, shrimp, snails, they are opportunistic.

Drop a small fish into a tank with a lion fish and you'll see just how "opportunistic" he is lol.

I could understand the case being made for the angler, as it won't actively seek out the prey. However a lion will go right after shrimp, fish, whatever it wants to try and eat, its gonna try and eat it.

 

[FTMMWS]

True BC10,but they are not aggressive ,,I have heard of fish(triggers in particular) chewing on there fins till there gone ...Anyway,,i think the consensus here is ,,no lion in a 55,no lion/angler combo ...maybe just an angler and an eel

 

[BallinCrew10]

Very true, a tank member they can't eat probably won't be harassed. I'll call it aggressive eating. They have an eating disorder lol.

I also agree with an angler and an eel. An angler would be an awesome, unique fish itself.

 

[KAhner]

Yea the angler is definately the must have anyways. I never really paid much attention to them before, but I seen one a couple weeks ago at my lfs in a nano. It was so freaking awsome. It definately inspired this tank. The lionfish was just an afterthought. I'm not really set on one. But I think I need a free swimmer for this tank. The eel will be the rock dweller, the angler the bottom dweller, any suggestions for a swimmer? Remember it's gonna go reef eventually.