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Volitans lionfish, photographed on a transparent background

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Volitans lionfish

Pterois volitans

It drifts slowly on plumed fins and swallows prey in a single gulp.

The Volitans lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a tropical marine fish of the family Scorpaenidae. It lives on and around reefs, between 2 and 55 m deep. Adults grow to about 35 cm; the largest on record measured 45.7 cm (total length). In the aquarium it needs a tank at least 250 cm long and water at 23–27 °C.

Size
35 cm
Smallest tank
250 cm
Temperature
23–27 °C
Care
Moderate

In the aquarium

Temperature23–27 °C
pH7.8–8.5
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Calm
Water layer
Mid water
Group
Lives on its own
Coral
Nips corals
Drawn to scale in a 250 cm tank

These values are compiled from real species data, and the LumaReef simulation is built to keep them true to life.

Which tank it fits

  • Nano60 cm · 65 litresToo small
  • Standard90 cm · 180 litresToo small
  • Wide120 cm · 300 litresToo small
  • Living room180 cm · 650 litresToo small
  • Showcase250 cm · 1,200 litres20 of them
  • Gallery300 cm · 1,440 litres24 of them

Who it lives with

In the wild

Water type
Marine
Climate zone
Tropical
Habitat
Coral and rocky reefs
Largest on record
45.7 cmtotal length
Aquarium trade
Traded commercially

Depth

Conservation status

Classification

  1. OrderPerciformes
  2. FamilyScorpaenidae
  3. GenusPterois
  4. SpeciesPterois volitans

In other languages

English
Common Lionfish
German
Pazifischer Rotfeuerfisch
Spanish
Pez león asiático
French
Rascasse volante du Pacifique
Italian
Pesce leone orientale
Dutch
Gewone koraalduivel
Turkish
Volitan'ın Aslan Balığı
Russian
Крылатка-зебра
Japanese
ハナミノカサゴ
Chinese
魔鬼簑鮋

Quick answers

Volitans lionfish size: how big does it get?
Adults reach about 35 cm. The largest on record measured 45.7 cm (total length).
Volitans lionfish tank size: what is the minimum?
A tank at least 250 cm long. In LumaReef that is the Showcase tank or larger.
Volitans lionfish water parameters: what does it need?
Temperature 23–27 °C, pH 7.8–8.5.
Volitans lionfish tank mates: what can it live with?
It gets along with 51 of the 99 reef species in the catalogue, such as Queen angelfish, Yellow boxfish, and Emperor angelfish.
Volitans lionfish: alone or in a group?
It can be kept on its own.
Volitans lionfish and corals: is it reef safe?
No, it may nip at corals.
Volitans lionfish depth: how deep does it live?
In the wild, 2 to 55 m down.

All Scorpaenidae speciesAll species A–Z

Sources

Volitans lionfish: compiled from these references.