FishIntermediate care40g minimum
Dwarf fuzzy lionfish reef compatibility check
Dendrochirus brachypterus
Compact lionfish for a tank of larger, calm fish and no shrimp.
Minimum tank
40 gallons
Care level
Intermediate
Reef safety
Caution
Bioload score
3.5
Stocking stage
Late
Flow need
Varied
Light need
None
Compatibility warnings
- Venomous spines; handle the tank with care.
- Eats ornamental shrimp and any fish that fits in its mouth.
- Check adult size against the final tank, not the fish or coral at purchase size.
- Add livestock slowly so the bioload and nutrient export can keep up.
- Use the planner when this animal changes the tank-size, flow, lighting, or stocking plan.
Professional planning context
- Use the 40 gallon minimum as an adult-planning floor; display length, aquascape, and existing tankmates can raise that floor.
- Hold this entry until the system has at least 3 months of maturity or equivalent stability evidence.
- Professionals should model aggression by territory and introduction order, not only by care level.
Tank fit and maturity gate
Tank minimum
40 gallons
ReefCrafter uses 40 gallons as the planning floor for adult size, swimming room, nutrient load, and aggression margin.
Maturity gate
3 months
This animal should wait until the tank has enough age, food web stability, or parameter history.
Care notes
- Temperament
- Semi Aggressive
- Reef safety
- Caution
- Adult size
- 7 in
- Placement
- Caves and overhangs; a slow ambush hunter.
- Diet
- Frozen meaty foods; wean from live food early.
- Flow
- Varied
- Light
- None
- Bioload
- 3.5