Red Lionfish

[olaf]

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.starfish.ch/Zeichnung/frogfish/Biocellatus.gif
http://www.fishbase.org/images/Anbio_u0.jpg
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname=Antennarius&speciesname=biocellatus

[OrionGirl]

Please let us know what they end up being. Unfortunately, lots of fish are captured in brackish, even though they later migrate to full salt.

The frog fish are awesome--I really want one, but haven't really had the chance to set up a tank for one. Yet!

[olaf]

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.

[olaf]

Pterois volitans
Red lionfish
http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/thumbnails/jpg/tn_Ptvol_ul.jpg
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

[Pufferpunk]

There are a lot of SW fish that visit or are washed into BW (during high tide) for a shote while. This does not mean by any way, these are BW fish, nor can they survive in BW. There are no BW lionfish. I was at a lfs once where they were selling BW dogface puffers! :shake:

[olaf]

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.

http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/thumbnails/jpg/tn_Arhis_ub.jpg
Arothron hispidus
White-spotted puffer
brackish; marine

[olaf]

http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/images/Arimm_u2.jpg
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...

[olaf]

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

[Pufferpunk]

Please don't put a ionfish in BW. Those Arothron puffer species are SW fish that visit BW occasionally. They are also not to be kept in BW their whole lives.

[olaf]

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.

[olaf]

I did purchase 4;
Vespicula depressifons, Leaf goblinfish
Family: Tetrarogidae (Wasp fishes)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (scorpionfishes and flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Max. size: 10.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 7050)
Environment:[/] demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine
[b]Climate: tropical; 22 - 28°C
Importance:[/] fisheries: of no interest
[b]Distribution:
Gazetteer Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. Reports from Japan are erroneous.
Diagnosis: Dorsal spines (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 3-3. Body notably compressed. Orbit 9 - 10% SL. Dorsal soft rays 6.5-7.5; anal 4.5 (usually) to 5.5 (Ref. 39597).
Biology: Possesses venom glands at the base of some of the spines (Ref. 6192). Of no commercial interest but appear from time to time in the aquarium trade (Ref. 39597)
Dangerous: venomous

[OrionGirl]

I've seen those guys--lovely little fish. One of the primary reasons I intended to set up a BW tank--then ended up not being able to find them, and now the tank will be angels and the fish unsuited for my other setups.

[MonoSebaelover]

Hey Orion- Mike over at ReefCentral put them right into saltwater and they are supposively doing great. I have never been able to keep them alive more than 2 months in brackish so I think they are a true saltwater fish. Just my opinion though.

[OrionGirl]

Yeah, I recall seeing his post on that, just didn't put the 2 together. Interesting--too bad they won't fit into any of the current setups.

[olaf]

I had mine in brackish for over three years.
I had 3 at first then one died from sorta self-infliction. He darted directly into the dorsal spine of the other one. I was watching...it slowly stopped swimming and started twitching and the reathing got slower and slower and finally it stopped.
The second died a few weeks ago. It was the smallest of the origional three and it wasn't doing so good so I separated it and it soon died after. Thinking back I should have left it in the tank and used my reeforium. :(
So now these newbies are in the reeforium and I bought them in FW and they are now in brackish. I converted them within 3 hours. From 1.000 to 1.007.