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Zebra Dwarf Lionfish
Lionfish

Zebra Dwarf Lionfish

Dendrochirus zebra

The Zebra Dwarf Lionfish trades the volitans’ size for the same theatre in a manageable body — banded orange, white and black, with pectoral fans it spreads like a cape when it corners prey. Field research has caught this species doing something unusual for a lionfish: hunting in small cooperative groups of two or three, which is worth knowing even though a home aquarium is not a reef and a single fish remains the safe default. Its dorsal, pelvic and anal spines are venomous, so maintenance is done with intent rather than haste. It will not touch coral, but ornamental shrimp and any fish small enough to swallow are simply food.

Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Max size
7.1"
Min tank
50 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Mid-water, Rockwork, Caves
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Zebra 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.

Blue DamselZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blue Damsel.Yellowtail DamselZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellowtail Damsel.Helfrich's FirefishZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Helfrich's Firefish.Yasha GobyZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yasha Goby.Tailspot BlennyZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Tailspot Blenny.Orchid DottybackZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orchid Dottyback.Springer's DottybackZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Springer's Dottyback.Purple DottybackZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Dottyback.Mandarin DragonetZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Mandarin Dragonet.Yellow Clown GobyZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Clown Goby.Green Clown GobyZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Green Clown Goby.Randall's AnthiasZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Randall's Anthias.Neon GobyZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Neon Goby.Threadfin CardinalfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Threadfin Cardinalfish.Yellow AssessorZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Assessor.Cherub AngelfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Cherub Angelfish.Spotted MandarinZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Spotted Mandarin.Hi Fin Red Banded GobyZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Hi Fin Red Banded Goby.Rainford's GobyZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Rainford's Goby.Azure DamselfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Azure Damselfish.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Maroon ClownfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Maroon Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Flame AngelfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Flame Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Coral Beauty AngelfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Coral Beauty Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Lemonpeel AngelfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Lemonpeel Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Bicolor AngelfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Bicolor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Saddleback ClownfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Red Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yellow TangZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Yellow Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Sea ClownfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Red Sea Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Sailfin TangZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Sailfin Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Purple TangZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Purple Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Powder Blue TangZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Powder Blue Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Matted FilefishZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Matted Filefish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Convict TangZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Convict Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Clark's ClownfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Clark's Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Tomato ClownfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Tomato Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Canary BlennyZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Canary Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Forktail BlennyZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Forktail Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Achilles TangZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Achilles Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Naso TangZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Naso Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Scopas TangZebra Dwarf Lionfish and Scopas Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.