The Venomous Zebra Lionfish is a very slow swimmer, which is capable of eating any fish or shrimp that fits in its mouth. Initially while acclimating to the tank, it is mostly found to be hidden or isolated. With its bizarre design and attributes, the Zebra Lionfish makes a captivating addition to any aggressive tank. It can adapt to any tank environment, if provided with adequate hiding spots such as crevices and caves. The Zebra Lionfish exhibits few top spines that are venomous, and can inflict irritation similar to a bee?s sting. We suggest you to take precautions while handling this Zebra Lionfish. It is kind of a personable fish that quickly recognizes and responds to its owner?s presence. Apart from eating crustaceans and fish, the Zebra Lionfish is considered reef safe but with caution. It thrives well in a temperature range of 72-78 degree Fahrenheit and with pH of 8.1-8.4. Feeding this Zebra Lionfish in the tank by hand can increase the risk of being stung and is not recommended. It can be fed a variety of frozen and prepared meaty foods like shrimp, clams, scallops, krill and other similar foods, but some may need live food like small feeder fish or ghost shrimp to trigger a feeding response. The Zebra Lionfish is colored and shaped to blend in with rockwork, sponges, algae and other parts of the reefs they inhabit.
The zebra lionfish, also known as the zebra turkeyfish and dwarf lionfish, is a lionfish from the Indo-West Pacific that is appropriate for smaller aquaria (down to about 30 gallons). This is a remarkable-looking fish and the most common of the dwarf lions. Not a “true lionfish” from the genus Pterois, the zebra lionfish belongs to the genus Dendrochirus, but it is, in most obvious ways, quite similar to its larger cousin—Pterois antennata (including its painfully venomous spines—Beware!). Like the larger lions, the zebra lionfish is susceptible to the common marine aquarium ailments including Cryptocaryon. Excellent filtration and stable conditions will lessen the stress on this animal upon introduction and, in turn, decrease the chances of any outbreaks. Be sure to offer it a low light habitat with at least one large cave. In terms of diet, offer meaty chunks of marine flesh such as silversides or table shrimp two to three times per week. New arrivals may not accept a captive diet at first, in which case the aquarist should periodically offer live glass or ghost shrimp. In time, however, even the most finicky zebra lionfish can be weaned onto a captive diet with patience and the use of a feeding stick. In general, the zebra lionfish is an outstanding aquarium lionfish for a smaller saltwater-aquarium with fishes larger than its mouth.
