Volitan Lionfish

The Volitan Lionfish, also known as the Common Lionfish or Turkeyfish, is a captivating and dramatic addition to a large marine aquarium. Its striking appearance features long, venomous dorsal, pectoral, and anal spines, and a body adorned with alternating bands of red, white, and brown. The pectoral fins are large and fan-like, adding to its impressive display.

A minimum of a 125-gallon aquarium is recommended to provide ample space for this large predator. The tank should include plenty of live rock and open swimming areas. While generally peaceful towards tankmates too large to be considered prey, the Volitan Lionfish is a voracious carnivore and will consume smaller fish and invertebrates. It is not a suitable inhabitant for a reef aquarium as it will prey on ornamental shrimp, crabs, and smaller fish.

In the wild, the Volitan Lionfish is a nocturnal hunter, ambushing its prey. In the aquarium, it readily accepts a diet of meaty foods. Offer a varied diet of live feeder shrimp (such as ghost shrimp), silversides, and other marine-based meaty foods. It is important to wean them onto frozen foods as soon as possible to avoid introducing parasites from live feeders. Use a feeding stick to offer food, keeping your hands away from their venomous spines.

There are no distinguishable differences in color or pattern between male and female Volitan Lionfish. Breeding in a home aquarium is extremely rare. This species can grow quite large in captivity, potentially reaching up to 15 inches in length. Due to their size and predatory nature, they are best kept in a species-only tank or with other large, non-aggressive fish. Handle with extreme caution due to their venomous spines.