Above: The picture shows a very-very cool 5" long premium quality Marbled Lion Fish swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.

Comments: This is a premium quality aquarium fish, and we never see fish of this quality in the fish stores and in the online fish stores that we visit.

Origin: this species is caught wild by very skillful collectors across a wide region in the rivers along the coasts of New Guinea, Australia, Indonesia, and the countries in Southeast Asia, and now this species lives in aquariums all over the world.

Maximum Size: about 12" long including the tail.

Behaviors: this species lies on the bottom, where it can ambush and eat fish that are small enough to fit into its large mouth.

Compatibility: Can be kept with fish that are too big to fit into its large mouth, provided those fish don't pick on this fish.

Temperature: from 75 to 80-degrees F. with about 78 the preferred temperature.

Feeding: usually live fish.

Water Conditions: this fish can tolerate a wide range of water with a pH from about 6.5 to 8.0 and moderate to high hardness.

Aquarium Size: Eventually this fish will need to live in at least an 80-gallon aquarium.

Decor: almost any decor will do. Lava Rocks will help reduce the nitrates in the water, which is good for this fish and almost all other species of fish.

Live plants are beautiful and improve the water quality.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.

Most 50-gallon aquariums will do well with one Penguin 350B Filter but two such filters is even better, and this makes a very nice set up.

Eventually this species will need to live in a 80, 120, 150, or 200-gallon aquarium with as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit across the back.

Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.

The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range.

Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: at least a few years, probably several years, and maybe many years with good care, frequent partial water changes, and excellent food.

Gender: no one seems to know how to determine the gender of this fish.

Breeding: Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.

Popularity: this is a rare fish that is not popular. But like many predators they are fun to keep and watch.

Names: this species has several common names, including Lionfish, Frogfish, Toadfish, and the word Freshwater is often added to the name, but this is misleading, because this fish is a brackish water fish that can tolerate both freshwater and brackish water.

Its scientific name is Batrachus trispinosus.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.

DrTom - 01/22/16

Fish are Cool