Care
The Volitans Lionfish is known from lagoons and turbid inshore reefs, to depths of 50m (164ft). Often solitary outside of the breeding season, they rest during the daytime, habitually assuming an immobile head down position. By night, they hunt small fishes, shrimps, and crabs, spreading their pectoral fins wide to herd and trap the prey in a corner, swallowing it whole in one lightning quick mouthful. This fish is a popular, bold, and long-lived aquarium resident, spending a lot of its time on view in the open. It will frequently hover in open water in anticipation of feeding time. As the Volitans Lionfish can attain a large adult size, it requires a spacious aquarium from the outset. Tankmates must be chosen with care on account of the natural diet - never attempt to house with small fishes, shrimps, or crabs. In very large quarters, this species may be kept in good-sized groups of its own kind, if all specimens are of the same size and introduced simultaneously. However, personalities do vary and we would advise careful observation and a means of separating the fish should it become necessary. It is not advisable to try and keep this species with different species of lionfish due to aggression levels. May also be seen on sale as Red Lionfish or Common Lionfish. *Caution: this species has venomous spines*
Feeding
Meaty items such as krill, prawns, cockle & mussel meat, frozen whitebait etc.
Breeding
This species has not been bred in the home aquarium. During the breeding season, a male will attract a group of females via elaborate courtship displays and will engage other males in territorial disputes. The female fish release clusters of several thousand adhesive eggs which are fertilised externally by the male. After 36 hours, the adhesive mucus that binds the eggs together dissolves, and they develop into free-floating planktonic larvae.
