Small lionfish

[Full3R]

My friend was told that his lionfish which cost him $45 would grow to be 45cm in less then a year so he put it in a 75 gallon and it grew to be about 20cm long and stoped growing fins are long and outwards but length is just near 20cm is there different speices or is his stupid?

[William]

Yes. there are several different species.

see lionfish[dot]info for a quick overview.

[stubbytheplecostomus]

yeah there are about 7 species that are common in the aquarium trade, does it hang on rocks like a pleco, or does it prefer to swim in the open water?

[Syn]

Its possible that he bought a dwarf lionfish and didnt realize it.

[Full3R]

well this one swims in open water but stays rather close to rocks (trying to catch his blennies)

[AQUA_KING]

Sounds like a dwarf lion but at 20cm thats quite big for a dwarf. Its usualy 16cm.