Pterois volitans {Lionfish}

DATA
Tank:- Reef type tank with coral and algae. 24 Gallons
SG.:- 1.022
Temperature:- 26oC
Maximum Length:- 35cm
Swimming area:- Utilises all tank space
Light:- Occasionally bright
Temperament:- Aggressive and can swallow fish almost as big as themselves
Nutrition:- Prefers moving prey so the food on a thread technique can usefully be employed here

Captain Jon Luk of the Starship Enterprise nust have the most widely travelled fish of all time. And YES! it is a lionfish which can be seen in the wall tank in his ready room. Fiction perhaps, but even now a group of Japanese scientists are spening a lot of serious time and effort with the intention of putting fish into space to provide future astronauts with fresh protein.
Widely know alternatively as Turkey fish; Scorpion fish and Dragon fish but the title lionfish is the most popular.They are very hardy, little prone to disease but do like a lot of space in which to manouvre. Found in most tropical oceans they spend a lot of time crawling around nooks and crannies searching for the next meal. With their efficient camoflague network they also lie about waiting for an unwary fish to appear. With their cavernous mouths a fish similar is size can easily be taken. Many feeder fish have been sacrifised to this end but they can be taught to take other foods although moving bait appears attractive and the "food on a thread method" can be utilised here as the main criteria in feding being that food should move. They can and do hunt in packs.
Changes in water parameters are tolerated well by this species but of course is not recommended.
Divers and bathers are very wary of this fish because of the extremely venemous spines. In captivity the specimens can become quuite tame so handling needs to be carried out with caution.
Spawning has been observed and as the pair come together the released eggs and sperm float to the surface and become pelagic. Hatching time is unknown. Again another instance whereby the hobbyist can add to the store of knowledge if he or she is successful in rearing lionfish.

Species in this group include:-
Dendochirus-
barberi; biocellatus; brachypterus;
Parapterois-
heterus;
Pterois-
antennata; miles; radiat; spex; volitans;
Rhinepias-
aphanes;
Scorpaenia-
intermis; picta; sonorae;
Taenianotus-
triacanthus ;

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