Lion fish and eels

[Coralgurl]

Looking on input regarding the care of lion fish and eels. I'm thinking about keeping my 55 gl running with soft corals and 1 of each of the fish. I'm looking at a dwarf zebra lion and snowflake eel. I also thought about seahorses but haven't done any research on them.

[subman]

did you want to have sea horses with the lions and eels?

[Coralgurl]

Oh no, it will be one or the other, either lion fish and eel OR seahorses. I can already hear the flaming over that combo....

[subman]

lol flame all they want I had a pair of ponies with a dwarf fuzzy lion and a dwarf golden eel and they were perfect companions. neither the lion nor the eel swam around all that much so the ponies were left alone

[reefgirl189]

Can't offer any advice but that fu manchu lion is the coolest looking fish I've ever seen. I'd love one some day.

[subman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZL_TnanRSI

[reefwars]

snowflake will be fine for the first year maybe a year and a half if you can get one as a small juvie which is easy enough but will out grow the 55 then.

[Coralgurl]

Hmmm, interesting! Which would you suggest I start with? Are the lions/eels easy to look after?

[reefwars]

plus eels are horrible mess makers during feeding time as they strike their food then retreat with it down to their lair.

[subman]

If you can find a dwarf golden moray they are great for that size tank and aren't as messy as snowflakes. the only problem I've encountered with dwarf lions is getting them to eat frozen food. Once they are eating they are amazing fish.

[subman]

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/subman001/2012-03-06_18-00-52_416.jpg
I just snapped a quick pic of mine sorry for the water spots lol

[Coralgurl]

That video is awesome, thanks for sharing! I think that's what I'm going to do, ponies and lion fish. Will start researching. Out of habit I keep looking in the 55 but it's empty and sad looking.

[Coralgurl]

I saw ghost eels this past weekend, very cool looking! Yours looks cute....

[subman]

It was truly my favorite Tank :mrgreen: I think it was sphelps that had a tank with them too

[Coralgurl]

I can see why, do you not have it running anymore?

[sphelps]

While I did have them I'd like to say for the record keeping things like lions and eels with horses isn't for everyone. Personally unless you've kept both previously with success I wouldn't try mixing them as a first attempt. Especially a snowflake eel and full size lion. Dwarf lions are pretty passive and typically OK, the only eel I'd recommend is the white ribbon eel but I don't have any experience with that golden moray.

But never the less.... (http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v1/y1/r/Qyh5ph9cQ_M.swf?v=68286609531&ev=0)

[subman]

no I went on holidays and lost the ponies and the dwarf lion :sad: moved the eel to my 90 gal. and now my son has that tank in his room.

[subman]

Sphelps is right not easy but in my opinion worth it. avoid the snowflakes, there are better eels just not as easy to get or as cheap.

[sphelps]

no I went on holidays and lost the ponies and the dwarf lion :sad: moved the eel to my 90 gal. and now my son has that tank in his room.

Is that a dwarf lion in the video?

[Coralgurl]

I'm not going to go out and buy everything at once or even right away. I have no experience with any of these, so will start with one at a time. Tank is too small for a full size lion so will look for a dwarf. I also don't want to worry about rehoming anything so will make sure I get the right eel for the tank, if I get one. I just like that I could have this combo in the future.

[jagermaier]

Keep in mind that eels are amazing escape artists! You will need a covered tank as well as your overflow.

[Coralgurl]

I guess that's a good point. This tank is running on a canister filter, no sump. I have an in tank skimmer and I've looked at covering the tank in the past but with the equip coming out, made it a bit challenging to keep it clean looking. Will see how this progresses.

[subman]

I made a maze of 1/2" pipe that was placed under the sand the eel very rarely left this except to eat and peek out lol

[Coralgurl]

That's a great idea. I'm still working on my 180 and finally found some brutes for water. Hopefully get that rigged up this weekend as all the water I make on the weekends is topping that tank up and I can't keep up. Ive just got snails, crabs and a couple of softies in the 55 ATM, so as soon as we get better set up, will start looking at what it will take to get these cool fish! Hope you won't mind offering advice!

[subman]

Anytime.

[sphelps]

I'm not going to go out and buy everything at once or even right away. I have no experience with any of these, so will start with one at a time. Tank is too small for a full size lion so will look for a dwarf. I also don't want to worry about rehoming anything so will make sure I get the right eel for the tank, if I get one. I just like that I could have this combo in the future.

Well the first trick to these tank mates is adding seahorse first, then a fully trained lion after. The horses should be comfortable in the tank without stress and establish a feeding ritual. With a lion in place already it may be more territorial, then add a stressed seahorse and a ton of food in attempts of establishing good eating habits and you're likely to have an issue.

Again my advice is to pick one or the other, lions or seahorses. Once you have experience with both you could consider them as being tank mates.

[Coralgurl]

That's where I will start first and not until I have done some research on them. Funny, this started as lion fish and eels, ended at seahorses. Any good suggestions on good sites or books?