Family: Scorpaenidae

Lion Fish - Pterois volitans

  Pterois volitans (Lion Fish) are a predatory species that often hunt in what appears to be groups. A rather lazy fish, they hang motionless at the crest of the reef waiting for dinner to swim to them! In captivity they eat mainly live feeder fish and sometimes frozen lance fish or silversides.

    Lionfish can be kept in a reef situation, but be aware they will eat crustaceans like crabs and shrimp. They will also put a large biological load on the aquarium since they need to be fed meaty foods regularly.

Breeding: Breeding of Lionfish has occurred in aquariums; reports of the Shortfin Lionfish, Dendrochilus brachypterus are the most common.