Lionfish are perhaps one of the most dramatic and symbolic of all salt water fishes. Their graceful flowing fins, slow deliberate movements, and poisonous spines seem to embody many of the attractive and mysterious features of the sea.

Lionfish and their relatives belong to a group of fishes known as the scorpaeniformes. They are usually spiny (possibly venomous) and have many small fleshy or bony protuberances on their face. As a group, they are all predators that thrive on a diet of small fishes and crustaceans. They usually will only eat live foods, but can be trained to eat prepared foods (but be sure to use tongs, as they are potentially deadly!) It is good idea to only feed them every 3-4 days. These fish are predators and their digestive tract does not take kindly to daily additions of food.

There are two families of "lionfish" that are common to the hobby.

Family Synanceiidae. These are the highly venomous stonefish. Perhaps the most deadly fish in the sea, so caution is a must. The will only bother things that they can eat, and enjoy eating live fish or crustaceans every 3-4 days. They are common throughout the Indo-Pacific, and can attain a length of 1 foot.

A word of caution... ALWAYS know exactly where they are before servicing your aquarium, as they resemble stones, and may surprise you.

Family Scorpaenidae. There are over 330 species of live bearing fish in this cosmopolitan family that includes the 50 plus species of rockfish found off the coast of California. The dorsal, anal and pelvic spines are all venomous. Despite this, some fish may pick on their long flowing fins, so watch for signs of aggression. Four species occasionally find their way into the fish store:

Pterois and Dendrochirus are the large and dwarf lions respectively (although the genera does vary). The black and red lions are the larger species and can attain lengths of up to a foot, and have a fin span of up to 18 inches. They are quite hardy, just remember to starve them occasionally and feed them whole food with some variety (shrimp, fish, squid etc.). The dwarf lions are more numerous and range from hardy species to some that are quite delicate. Look for hardy specimens that are interested in eating. (Do not let them actually eat prior to taking them home, since they may vomit in the bag and foul the water!) Dwarf lions are a bit less aggressive, and are sometimes finicky, so pick unaggressive tankmates and tempt them with live food.

Radiata sp. and Antennata sp. and Fu Man Chu lions ( Dendrochirus biocellatus) are more delicate than the other generic dwarf lions, but all lions are well worth the effort. There are two other fish in the same family that deserve a quick word. Goosefish and sea goblins (Rhinopias) are exotic fringed fishes that frequently rest upon the bottom. Leaf-fish anglers (Taenianotus) are small flattened fish that rely on camouflage to capture their prey. Both fishes are unlikely to chase prey as they will wait for it to come into range. Take time to insure that they get their share, and try to place them into a tank with other slow feeding less aggressive tankmates.

Editors Note, when cleaning a tank with Lionfish in it, ALWAYS KNOW WHERE THE FISH IS ! Most hobbyists get stung because they were not paying attention. Should you be stung by a lion Fish, immerse the wound in as hot a water as you can tolerate. The heat helps break the bond between the venom and the proteins in the blood. A Lion Fish sting is similar to a Bee sting, and subseptability is dependent on your bodies reaction to the venom. Expect the sting to create a serious discomfort for one to three days, should it continue beyond that, or become intolerable visit your local doctor immediately !