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Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish
Lionfish

Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish

Dendrochirus brachypterus

The Fuzzy Dwarf is the smallest lionfish in the hobby and the one most often kept — a stocky, shaggy-finned ambush hunter that learns to recognise its keeper and beg at the glass. Small does not mean harmless in either direction: its spines carry the same venom as its larger cousins, and its mouth is startlingly big for its body, so gobies, blennies and damsels are prey rather than company. It ignores coral entirely, which makes it a genuine reef fish, but ornamental shrimp and small cleanup crew are not safe with it. Expect a stubborn first month — most arrive wanting live food and need patient weaning onto frozen.

Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Max size
6.7"
Min tank
50 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Bottom, Rockwork, Caves
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Helfrich's FirefishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Helfrich's Firefish.Yasha GobyFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yasha Goby.Tailspot BlennyFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Tailspot Blenny.Springer's DottybackFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Yellow Clown GobyFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Clown Goby.Green Clown GobyFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Green Clown Goby.Neon GobyFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Neon Goby.Threadfin CardinalfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Threadfin Cardinalfish.Hi Fin Red Banded GobyFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Hi Fin Red Banded Goby.Talbot's DamselFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Talbot's Damsel.Springer's DemoiselleFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Demoiselle.Tangaroa Shrimp GobyFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Tangaroa Shrimp Goby.Pink-Streaked WrasseFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Pink-Streaked Wrasse.Citron Clown GobyFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Citron Clown Goby.Barnacle BlennyFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Barnacle Blenny.Blue AssessorFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blue Assessor.Candy BassletFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Candy Basslet.Zebra Dwarf LionfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Zebra Dwarf Lionfish are the same genus (Dendrochirus) and will fight — keep only one.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Kole TangFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Kole Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Sixline WrasseFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Sixline Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Melanurus WrasseFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Melanurus Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Coral HawkfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Coral Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Purple DottybackFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Purple Dottyback both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Midas BlennyFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Midas Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Longnose HawkfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Longnose Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Potter's AngelfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Potter's Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Bicolor BlennyFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Bicolor Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Coris WrasseFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Red Coris Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Flame HawkfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Flame Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Saddleback ClownfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Cherub AngelfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Cherub Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Multicolor AngelfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Multicolor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Starry BlennyFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Starry Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Spotted MandarinFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Spotted Mandarin both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Rusty AngelfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Rusty Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Emperor AngelfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Emperor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Regal AngelfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Regal Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Picasso TriggerfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish and Picasso Triggerfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.