TankBud

Fu Manchu lionfish

Dendrochirus biocellatus

Also known as Twinspot lionfish, Ocellated lionfish, Twospot turkeyfish, Fu Manchu dwarf lionfish

SaltwaterFish

Fu Manchu lionfish (Dendrochirus biocellatus)
Philippe Bourjon · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.0–8.4
Adult size
5.1 in
13 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Own kind
One per tank
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Scorpaenidae
Origin
Native to the Indo-Pacific, living in caves and under ledges on coral reefs where it hides during the day.

Overview

The Fu Manchu lionfish is a small dwarf lionfish that lives near the bottom of a quiet marine tank. It is a fish for experienced keepers, since getting it to eat is the challenge.

Did you know

The Fu Manchu lionfish is so shy and nocturnal that owners often go days without seeing it. They may catch only a glimpse of its chin whiskers poking out of a cave at night.

Caring for the Fu Manchu lionfish

Keep a single Fu Manchu lionfish in a quiet tank of at least 29 gal (110 L), with many caves and ledges. Hold the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.0 to 8.4.

It usually starts on live saltwater shrimp at dusk, and weaning it onto thawed foods takes patience. It is notoriously shy and often refuses to feed in a busy community tank.

Keep it away from fast, greedy tank mates that will outcompete it at feeding time. It is coral safe but eats small fish, shrimp and crabs, so avoid tiny tank mates and ornamental shrimp.

Good to know

The Fu Manchu lionfish, Dendrochirus biocellatus, is one of the smaller lionfish. It is named for the pair of fleshy whiskers on its chin, which look like a drooping mustache. It is patterned in red, brown and cream, and it carries the same venomous spines as its larger relatives. Two ocelli on the soft rear dorsal fin give it the name biocellatus and may act as false eyes to confuse predators.

In the wild

The Fu Manchu lionfish is native to the Indo-Pacific, where it lives in caves and under ledges on coral reefs. It hides during the day, clinging upside down inside caves, and comes out only in dim light to hunt.

Common questions

What size tank does a Fu Manchu lionfish need?

A Fu Manchu lionfish needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Fu Manchu lionfish need?

A Fu Manchu lionfish is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.0–8.4.

What does a Fu Manchu lionfish eat?

A Fu Manchu lionfish usually starts on live saltwater shrimp at dusk. With patience it can be weaned onto thawed foods.

How big does a Fu Manchu lionfish get?

An adult Fu Manchu lionfish reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).

Related species