Common lionfish

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Common Lionfish

Scientific Name Pterois volitans (Linnaeus)

Max. Size: 15"

Tank Size: 180 gallon min

Aggression: Moderatly Aggressive.

Hardiness: Care level is easy.

Reef-Safe: Yes

Available as captive-bred: (Add here)

Common Lion Fish

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Physical Description

The lionfish present an impressive display when they fan out their pectoral fins. They have a beautifully banded head and body with reddish or golden brown bands stretching across a yellow background. Their eyes are hidden beneath tentacle-like growths, and their body is covered with venomous spines.

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Distribution

They are found in the Indo-Pacific region in subtropical waters.

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Taxonomic Information

Phylum or Division: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family:Scorpaenidae
Subfamily: Pteroinae

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Behavior

Lionfish are nocturnal and move about in the darkness by slowly undulating the soft rays of the dorsal and anal fins. The lionfish feeds for the first hour of darkness, but will remain in the open until daylight. When the sun rises they will retreat to their homes among the coral and rocks. While the lionfish do live in groups when young or mating they are solitary fish and very territorial. They will aggressively defend their territory with the males being more vicious the females. Courting males are especially aggressive.

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Feeding

Lionfish feed mostly on crustaceans (and other invertebrates) and small fish, including small fish of their own species. They consume an averate of 8.2 times their own body weight per year. They eat 5.5-13.5 g per day as juveniles and 14.6 g per day as adults. In addition to fish, lionfish feed on invertebrates such as amphipods, isopods, and other crustaceans. The lionfish glides along the substrate (rocks or sand) and vibrates the rays on its fins in order the rustle the food out of hiding. In general, the lionfish is stationary and feeds on as many fish as it can when fish are plentiful and then it fasts when food is scarce. When a lot of food is available for feeding, Pterois volitans becomes satiated or full and may not eat for at least 24 hour.

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Breeding

Lionfish will only socialize with other lionfish when courting. For this exception a male lionfish fill group with several females in a group of 3-8 fish.

It is easier to differentiate between lionfish sexes when they are ready to reproduce. The male will become darker and more uniformly colored. Their stripes will be less visible. While females with eggs will become paler, and their stomach and moth become silvery white.

The mating couple will swim around near the surface of the water and the female will release her spawn. The spawn are made up of two hollow mucus tubes that will float ear the water surface. After approximately fifteen minutes, the tube will fill with seawater and become oval balls (2-5 cm in diameter). With these balls lie 1-2 layers of eggs. The number of eggs per ball ranges from 2,000 to 15,000. When the female releases her spawn the male releases his sperm, which penetrates the balls and fertilizes the eggs.

A mere 36 hours after fertilization the larvae will hatch. Within two days the larvae will already be good swimmers and be able to fee on small ciliates.

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Social Structure

If a male lionfish meets another male while hunting, the more aggressive male will turn darker in color and point its poisonous, spiny dorsal fins at the other individual who usually folds down its pectoral fins and swims away.

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