LIONFISH VERY DARK IN COLOR

[srmerrill]

I've had my 55g tank up and running for almost a year now. Have a small dogface puffer, naso tang, yellow tang, and a tomato clown. About two weeks I added a small peacock lionfish. Everything seemed to be going fine. Then I noticed red "lines" on my yellow tang around it's eyes and down it's face towards its mouth. I was told this was a parasitic disease and it needed be treated with an antibiotic. I was also told I could just put the tablets directly into my tank -- which I soon learned was a mistake (water now out of balance, ammonia high). I quickly set up a qt tank (10g) where I put my yellow tang, and am now treating separately. I've been doing partial water changes in my display tank, trying to get the water parameters back to normal. As all of this was going on, I've noticed my lion turning very dark (black) and losing it's vibrant colors. He is still eating (ghost shrimp only), but doesn't seem to move around very much (I thought he would always be on display, suspended in the water, and looking beautiful!). He is staying this very dark color. Can anyone give me any advice? I would really appreciate it.

[Fiji Live Rock]

Yea...your advice is....You have fish that you shouldn't have in that 55 Gal.!

Read this post of mine! Look for the Naso Tang section! (For one thing your tank is WAY too small for it!) : http://reeflounge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=28803#28803

Also...as for the Lionfish...they need a MIN tank size of 50...so you are just barely meeting the min for this fish alone.

AND....

That puffer....once again...Your tank is WAY too small for it!) :

The Arothron Dog Face Puffer, also known as the Blackspotted Puffer, gets its name from its resemblance to canines. It changes appearance during different stages of life. While in the gray phase, it is gray with black markings around the mouth, eyes, and dorsal fin. The pectoral fins have a yellow appearance. The half-yellow phase is denoted by a yellow underbelly and dark gray overcoat, while the face looks similar to the gray phase. It may also have black spots over the body, which may be gray or yellow. It very rarely changes phases while living in an aquarium.

The Arothron Dog Face Puffer lacks pelvic fins, but is very maneuverable, using its pectoral, dorsal, and anal fins. Instead of "teeth," it has a fused beak-like structure which it uses to crush prey.

A 100 gallon or larger, fish-only, carnivorous aquarium is suitable. The Arothron Dog Face Puffer makes a great addition to these tanks with its great personality and unusual appearance. It will eat invertebrates found in a reef tank. It tolerates other Puffers that are not more aggressive than itself. It is shy at first, and becomes alarmed when in a net, therefore, use a container to transfer it.

The Arothron Dog Face Puffer needs a varied diet of meaty foods including; squid, krill, clams, and hard shelled shrimp to help wear down their ever growing teeth.

I don't know who sold you these fish...but obeviously they either didn't ask you about the size of your tank or thought you already knew or....(what most pet stores do just to make a sale) they just sold you it...knowing you probably had a tank that was too small for it but wanted to make the sale anyway.

Two of those fish that you have should NOT be in that tank of yours!

Sorry to smack the hammer down...but I can't stand by and not tell you your situation. You WILL kill those fish as they will outgrow that tank!

:?

[srmerrill]

Thanks for the reply. I am learning (slowly) that this one particular store likes to tell you what you want to hear in order to sell you their fish. I am planning to upsize my aquarium in the future, and am hoping that I will be able to keep the fish that I now have. My question is, is this the reason for the lion being so dark in color? Is it because of the size of the tank? There doesn't seem to be any stress among the fish, none of them bother each other. But I just wondered if this is the probable reason for the lion's dark color???? Thanks for your help.

[Fiji Live Rock]

As for the Lion. Some of the species are a dark red to a black. The color change would be concidered normal if under these catagories.

As long as it is eating well, I wouldn't worry. Also, if you can...feed it marine fish instead of freshwater goldfish.

Fading colors is what you should look for and be worried about. If its colors are fading, then I would be highly concerned. :wink: