Adding the Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish to Your Fish Tank
There are few fish as beautiful or as interesting as the fuzzy dwarf lionfish. With their brilliant colors, their graceful fins, and their venomous spines, they are also one of the most fascinating fish in the sea. When added to your fish tank, they can be very easy to take care of and resistant to disease, which makes them appealing as well.
The lionfish belong to the scorpion family. They can be found in the central and western parts of the Pacific Ocean, as well as the Red Sea. Some are found around reefs and rocky surroundings in tropical and subtropical waters, while others have a more restricted range and can be located around the Hawaiian Islands. The dwarf lionfish can be identified by the dark spot located on the lower part of their gill cover.
They also have a pattern of stripes that usually are comprised of alternating dark and brown colors. Their scales are unique in that they appear fuzzy, and they have pectoral fins that are decorated with unique patterns. Their fin rays are connected with webbing and are quite short. The males can be recognized by the fact that their heads are larger and that they have longer pectoral fins. They also have 6–10 stripes on their fins, while the females only have 4-6.
There are basically three colors that the fuzzy dwarf lionfish come in – yellow, brown, and red. Yellow is the rarest of the colors, while reddish ones have a gorgeous tint to them. You can also find some combinations of these colors as well. One of the reasons that people enjoy having them in their fish tanks is because not only are they beautiful, but they are hardy as well.
The sharp points on them, as well as the venom contained in them, help them fight off predators. Although smaller than their cousins, the fuzzy dwarfs still have a sting that can be very painful if you do not handle them properly. Although it’s not lethal to humans, it can still hurt pretty badly if you are subjected to it. This is particularly important to know if you are moving them from one tank to another.
During the day, most lionfish will hide. The dwarfs actually like to hang upside down in caves. Therefore, making sure that you have plenty of caves and rock work for them to hide in is important. Once they get used to it, however, the fuzzy dwarf lionfish will generally come out during the daylight hours and swim around, too. It might take them a while to get used to the lighting and the tank, but after a few months, they shouldn’t be as shy. In fact, once they get used to you, they might even swim toward you when you walk up the tank.
When they live in the wild, they tend to live on their own or in small groups. However, in a home tank, you can keep a couple of females with one male if the tank is large. If the tank is too small, however, it’s best to only have one in there at a time. You can usually find fuzzy dwarf lionfish for sale at local pet stores that stock a variety of fish. Although most lionfish require a large tank, the dwarf does not, mostly due to their size. They do not usually get any longer than 8” and can live well in a tank that holds 30–50 gallons. They like to hide in rocks and caves and are more sedentary, making the smaller tank acceptable for them.
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