How to Take Care of a Lionfish

Lionfish have long spines and stripes, and are deceptively beautiful. They are not as easy to care for as most pets, but their exotic appearance and unique nature make them worth the extra effort. Their behavior is regal and they appear to be dignified, which may be why they are called lionfish. They are venomous, and you need to be cautious when transporting them and cleaning their tank.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish tank
  • Fine sand
  • Plants and other decorations
  • Cave
  • Carbon filter
  • Saline
  • Hydrometer
  • Soft cloth
  • Latex gloves
  • Feeder fish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the lionfish in a 75-gallon-or-larger tank that has overhead lighting. Add a two-inch layer of fine sand at the bottom, and add plants and a cave to mimic the lionfish's natural environment and make it feel secure. These fish originally come from the Indo-pacific region and live among coral reefs with lots of crevices and hiding places. Keep the water clean using a carbon filter.

    • 2

      Keep the tank's saline level at 1.027, which you can measure using a hydrometer. Add plain water when it evaporates, and add more salt only when the salt level decreases. Maintain the tank's temperature at 75 to 79 degrees F. Wipe its inside walls with a soft cloth once a week, but be very cautious because lionfish are venomous. Move slowly so you don't startle it, and wear latex gloves for protection.

    • 3

      Feed the lionfish live food like shrimp and feeder fish that you can buy at the pet store. Lionfish are hunters that kill for sustenance, so never offer it dead food or dry packaged fish food.