Reef Tank Safe

[99taws6]

I am looking at a Vol. Lionfish or a Snowflake Moray Eel for my tank. I am curious as to your experiences with these type of fish in a mixed reef tank. Here is what I have:

180gal
200lbs live rock
150lbs sand
Various LPS and SPS

I think all the above is no issue, but here is the livestock:

Dsjarden Sailfin Tang - 5"
Tomini Tang - 5"
Foxface Rabbitfish - 4"
Atlantic Blue Tang - 3"
Arc Eye Hawkfish - 2"
Psychodelic Mandarin - 2"
Yellow Watchman Goby - 2.5"
2 Psuedo Damsels - 2"
Lawnmower Blenny - 3"
Percula Clown - 1.5"
Cleaner Shrimps
Pistol Shrimp
Peppermint Shrimp
Various Snails/Hermits
Large Fighting Conch

Would either the Lion or the Eel be ok? The lion is small and the Eel is about 6-8"

Thanks in advance

[copperband]

well i had a snowflake and it ate my cleaner shrimp it also swam right into my anemone just to try and catch my clownfish i had lawnmower blennies in with it and i think one lasted 3 days so if your going to try the moray keep it really really well fed and volitans can get very large both are reefsafe fish u just have to keep them with larger reefsafe fish if you want a lion try a fuzzy dwarf but lions will eat anything that can fit in their mouth. so if u want a lion u should try a fuzzy dwarf

[RayAllen]

In the wild Moray eels naturally prey on inverts so unless you rid the tank of them it will not work. My 20" snowflake trys to eat freaking turbo snails which hilarious to watch. As for the lion it will also try to eat your shrimp and any smaller fish that will fit in its mouth so your mandarin, blenny, clown and shrimp will all be on its menu.

[XeroKitsune]

i have a large moray snowflake and many cleaner shrimp and a peppermint shrimp just feed him a few cubes of squid mine takes it from my hand (he bit me again the other day though) but it's best to use a sea squirt or turkey baster, but they are fun mine does not bother any fish at all. All in all mine shows off and is fairly sweet but lions are poisonous and very pretty.

[99taws6]

So if I feed the Eel it should leave most of my stuff alone? If it does bother stuff it is just going to bother my snails/crabs mainly? How fast do these grow? I mean am I looking at a foot in a year?

Now the lion will eat anything it can put in its mouth? But will it be on the prowl always for that if it is fed? How fast are they? Could a smart quick fish escape?

I am just looking for a cool predator type fish, but love my corals and fish I have. Thanks again.

[copperband]

ok if you want a cool predator fish then try a fuzzy dwarf lion or a dwarf zebra lion or possibly a fu manchu lion

[XeroKitsune]

fu manchu lion are cool

[copperband]

once i upgrade me and my bro are looking at one of these lions for our reef tank

[RayAllen]

i have a large moray snowflake and many cleaner shrimp and a peppermint shrimp just feed him a few cubes of squid mine takes it from my hand (he bit me again the other day though) but it's best to use a sea squirt or turkey baster, but they are fun mine does not bother any fish at all. All in all mine shows off and is fairly sweet but lions are poisonous and very pretty.

You have a very mild mannerd eel on your hands.

This goes to show you the diffrent personality traits you can have. My eel is very bold and aggressive with food and has nipped a few of my fish that get to close to his borrow or food. So If you want- give it a try but do not be surprised if something comes up missing....... Buying a small 12" will help establish that you are the source of food.

[erikharrison]

Xero- eels have poor vision, from what I remember. That would explain it biting you accidentally. They do have a nasty bite, so do be very careful! Also, make sure you secure every aspect of your tank as they are known escape artists. I had a snowflake named Houdini, and you guessed it, he escaped.

99- I doubt you would want those in your tank. You have some small fish in there which would more than likely become food for those fish. Like Ray said though, if you get them small enough, you can attempt to train them that you are the one and only source of food. My snowflake was well behaved, but I bought him off a skilled reefer! He had it trained to eat off a rigid piece of airline tubing.

The other thing, i hope you have one heck of a skimmer. Those two selections are waste makers, definitely very messy.

[Bill S]

As Erik pointed out, these things are poop/pee machines. It's hard enough keeping nitrates low as it is WITHOUT these guys. Personally, I think you are asking for trouble...

[erikharrison]

Dinner for the lion:
1.) Mandarin... this should be a quick one to go.
2.) Yellow Watchman Goby
3.) Clowns.... maybe.
4.) Lawnmower Blenny

If it doesn't eat them right away, it will stress your fish out just having it around. Could you imagine being locked in a cell with a killer? Especially one that will grow to 10 times your size? Moreover, one that eyeballs you everyday, just waiting to grow large enough to eat you? I think that would spur your fish to become paranoid schizophrenic... :)

[bigmoe21]

does the mandarin have a slime on it that protects it from other fish eating it? or is it still a possible victim?

[RayAllen]

does the mandarin have a slime on it that protects it from other fish eating it? or is it still a possible victim?

It can be eaten just the same as the others.

[copperband]

ya the lion will be top predator if you put it in their