Devil firefish

Care at a glance

Overview

House a single devil firefish in 400 litres or more with rock caves and open water, at 23 to 27 C and pH 8.0 to 8.4. It leaves corals alone but eats any fish or shrimp that fits in its mouth, so keep only larger tankmates. Feed thawed silversides, marine shrimp and krill from a stick and avoid live freshwater feeders, which lead to liver problems. Handle the tank with care, as the venomous spines cause severe pain.

In the wild

The devil firefish is the Indian Ocean twin of the red lionfish, with long banded pectoral fans and a crown of venomous spines. It is nearly identical to Pterois volitans and the two can only be told apart reliably by fin-ray counts. It grows to around 35 cm and becomes a bold, greedy hunter.

Good to know

Pterois miles and Pterois volitans are so similar they are often confused, and the two together have become notorious invaders of the western Atlantic and Caribbean. Its 18 venomous spines deliver a painful defensive sting. It reproduces prolifically, with females releasing floating egg masses year round in warm water.

Common questions

Related species

• 

  Radiata lionfish

  Pterois radiata

  9.4 in (24 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)

  9.4 in (24 cm)70 gal (265 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Antennata lionfish

  Pterois antennata

  7.9 in (20 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)

  7.9 in (20 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Volitans lionfish

  Pterois volitans

  15 in (38 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)

  15 in (38 cm)119 gal (450 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Dwarf zebra lionfish

  Dendrochirus zebra

  9.8 in (25 cm) · 60 gal (227 L)

  9.8 in (25 cm)60 gal (227 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Fuzzy dwarf lionfish

  Dendrochirus brachypterus

  7.1 in (18 cm) · 50 gal (190 L)

  7.1 in (18 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Fu Manchu lionfish

  Dendrochirus biocellatus

  5.1 in (13 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)

  5.1 in (13 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)