Antennata lionfish
Pterois antennata
Also known as Spotfin lionfish, Broadbarred firefish, Ragged-finned lionfish, Antennata firefish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.0–8.4
- Adult size
- 7.9 in
- 20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal
- 300 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Scorpaenidae
- Origin
- Native to the Indo-Pacific, living on coral and rocky reefs where it shelters in caves by day and hunts at dusk.
Overview
Give a single antennata lionfish at least 300 litres with caves and open swimming room, at 24 to 27 C and pH 8.0 to 8.4. It is coral safe but will eat any fish or shrimp small enough to swallow, so choose larger tankmates. Feed thawed marine shrimp, silversides and chunks of fish from a feeding stick, and avoid a diet of only freshwater feeders, which cause fatty liver disease. Take great care during maintenance, since the spines are venomous even on a healthy-looking fish.
In the wild
The antennata lionfish is a mid-sized lionfish with long, separated pectoral rays that fan out like feathers and fine barring in red, brown and white. It has spotted membranes and a pair of long tentacles above the eyes. Slow and deliberate, it drifts out at dusk and corners small fish with its spread fins.
Good to know
Pterois antennata reaches around 20 cm and carries venom in the grooves of its dorsal, pelvic and anal spines, used purely for defence. A sting is intensely painful and best treated by immersing the wound in hot water, which breaks down the venom. It herds prey into a corner with its wide pectoral fins before a lightning gulp.
Did you know
Lionfish spread their fan-like pectoral fins to slowly herd smaller fish into a corner, then strike so fast that the prey vanishes in a single visible gulp.
Common questions
What size tank does an Antennata lionfish need?
An Antennata lionfish needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does an Antennata lionfish need?
An Antennata lionfish is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.0–8.4.
How big does an Antennata lionfish get?
An adult Antennata lionfish reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).
Related species
9.4 in (24 cm)70 gal (265 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Radiata lionfish
Pterois radiata
9.4 in (24 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)
13.8 in (35 cm)106 gal (400 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Devil firefish
Pterois miles
13.8 in (35 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
15 in (38 cm)119 gal (450 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Volitans lionfish
Pterois volitans
15 in (38 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
7.1 in (18 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Fuzzy dwarf lionfish
Dendrochirus brachypterus
7.1 in (18 cm) · 50 gal (190 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)60 gal (227 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Dwarf zebra lionfish
Dendrochirus zebra
9.8 in (25 cm) · 60 gal (227 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Fu Manchu lionfish
Dendrochirus biocellatus
5.1 in (13 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)