Red Lionfish

I was just at my LFS and they said tuesday they were getting brackish Red Lionfish. I said that lion fish are not brackish they stated that they knew that and they questioned the private supplier. He said they were caught in brackish water and promised the store owners that they were truely brackish.

I told them (LFS) that I would wait and see tuesday, when they come into the store.

They said they were about 6", Hopefully if all true, they will be a little smaller.

But not keeping my hopes up since fish are mis-labeled and are sometimes put in the wrong conditions to get a sale.

It could be a toadfish or even an Antennarius biocellatus
Brackishwater frogfish


http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname=Antennarius&speciesname=biocellatus

Yes, it is sad, but knowledge on the fish you keep or thinking about purchasing them before you do, will make it better.

I try to learn as much about the fish before purchasing them.

I'll keep everyone intouch about this "brackish" red lionfish.

Pterois volitans
Red lionfish

picture (Ptvol_ul.jpg) by Patzner, R.

Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes) ,
subfamily: Pteroinae
Order: Scorpaeniformes (scorpionfishes and flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Max. size: 38.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 2334)
Environment: reef-associated; marine ; depth range 2 - 55 m
Climate: tropical; 35°N - 32°S
Importance: fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Distribution: Gazetteer Indo-Pacific: western Australia and Malaysia to the Marquesas Is. and Oeno (Pitcairn group); north to southern Japan and southern Korea; south to Lord Howe, Kermadec, and Austral Is.; throughout Micronesia. Also known from Inhaca Is., Mozambique (Ref. 5285).
Diagnosis: Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 6-7. Scales cycloid (Ref. 37816). Variable in colour, usually in relation to habitat. Coastal species generally darker, sometimes almost black in estuaries. Often with large tentacles above eyes (Ref. 48635).
Biology: Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs from turbid inshore areas to depths of 50 m. Hides in unexposed places at daytime often with head down and practically immobile. Pelagic juveniles expatriate over great distances and the reason for their broad geographical range (Ref. 48635). Hunts small fishes, shrimps, and crabs at night, using its widespread pectorals trapping prey into a corner, stunning it and then swallowing it in one sweep. Dorsal spines are venomous; the sting can be treated by heating the afflicted part and application of corticoids (Ref. 5503). A popular table fish
Red List Status: Not in IUCN Red List , (Ref. 36508)
Dangerous: venomous , Myers, R.F.. 1991

I know this about fish that live near estuaries. I would not buy something I would harm or end up killing. Please, give me some credit.


Arothron hispidus
White-spotted puffer
brackish; marine

Arothron immaculatus
Immaculate puffer
Environment: reef-associated; brackish; marine ; depth range 1 - 17 m

These last two puffers will live in medium brackish (1.010 and up).
But, that is sad when a true marine fish is sold as something it should not be sold as...

It has been put off until tomorrow. Probaly because of the cold weather.
The dealer said that it is eating froozen food; brine, etc.

It was a toadfish. It was a rusty-bown color, so they called it red.
If it was a true lionfish I would have bought it and but it in my marine tank or given it to my friend with a 75 gal marine tank.

About the puffers I realize that they visit brackish water.