Zebra lionfish

Care at a glance

The zebra lionfish is the smallest of the lionfish and has enormous, fan-shaped pectoral fins with zebra-like banding. It drifts slowly through the tank, herding prey into a corner with spread fins before sucking it in with one fast gulp.

Its dorsal spines are venomous: a sting is very painful for people and can cause a severe reaction, so work carefully in the tank and never move it with bare hands. Anything that fits in its mouth gets eaten, so shrimp and small fish are not an option; feed it frozen food from tongs at the end of the day.

Good to know

• Venomous spines — handle with care
• Preys on shrimp and snails
• Active at night

Best not combined with

• Firefish gobyNemateleotris magnifica
• Neon gobyElacatinus oceanops
• Cleaner shrimpLysmata amboinensis
• Fire shrimpLysmata debelius
• Sexy shrimpThor amboinensis

Related species

• Emperor angelfishPomacanthus imperator
• Valentini pufferCanthigaster valentini
• Bicolor angelfishCentropyge bicolor
• Picasso triggerfishRhinecanthus aculeatus
• Copperband butterflyfishChelmon rostratus
• Scooter blennySynchiropus ocellatus