Planted tank with scorps or lionfish

[brynkal]

I've seen pics of beautiful tanks planted with macro algaes and housing lionfish or scorps. In our planted tank, I'm frequently pruning back the more vigorous growers so that they don't take over the whole tank. When you have a scorp in the tank, how do you prune back the plants? Is the likelihood of a sting overstated, is it fairly safe to have your arm in the tank as long as you can see the scorp and he isn't close, or do you hold them off with a net or something while you prune?

[namxas]

I never worry about sticking my hand into our setups as long as I know where the fish are. In fact, I've actually gently lifted one of our Rhinopias out of my way by placing two fingers beneath it because it wouldn't move.

The only fish I have a "problem" with is our c.ockatoo waspfish. It is SO friendly and always looking for a handout that it actually follows the vacuum wand around. I'm sure that fish would perch in my hand, but I'm not QUITE that brave since waspfish have a much more potent sting than scorps.

Just respect the fish, and know where they are...

I DID receive a warning from one of our Rhinos once...note how it is "headstanding" to bring its spines to bear:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll73/hixphotobucket/rhino900.jpg

If you ever receive a warning like this, simply move away from the fish.

[jarrod13]

I think it depends on each individual fish. For instance, my lions don't make me nervous at all and they come within inches of my arm, but I watch them closely and they usually just check out what's going on and as soon as they realize their not getting fed they move on. On the other hand, I have an inimicus didactlyus that I have literally not put a finger in the tank since he's been in there, I won't even take the top off because he freaks me out so bad (spooks very easily and violently tries to jump out) and he's very venomous so it's not worth the risk to me to get stung. When I need to prune the tank that he is in I just pull out what I can with my grabbers.

The best safety advice I can give though is to always have someone else keeping their eyes locked on the fish while your working, use the buddy system ;-)

[namxas]

Jarrod,

I wonder if it's an I. didactylus thing...our I. japonicus is pretty even-keeled, but that red didactylus is definitely more sketchy at times. The other sting fish (the C. multibarbus) is just plain antisocial...it flashes and stalks away.

[psykokid]

The only fish I have a "problem" with is our c.ockatoo waspfish. It is SO friendly and always looking for a handout that it actually follows the vacuum wand around. I'm sure that fish would perch in my hand, but I'm not QUITE that brave since waspfish have a much more potent sting than scorps.


Lol.. I have lots of macro in my DT that i'm always pruning back and i have to really keep an eye on my waspfish.. Just like greg said, they are like little puppies vying for attention and food. Mine tires to eat from my hand if i'm breaking up a frozen bit of food under the waters surface.. Id let him if the sting danger wasnt so high..