lionfish... question

[pong]

question:

i bought another lionfish...

it has a generally a lighter color than the volitans...
is this a russell's, it also doesnt have the horns on
its head...

thanks!

[Absint Reefer]

no horns and lighter than a black bolitan would be a red volitan

[pong]

red voiltan?

how does a russell's look like? couldnt find clear pics of it

and how would i know if its a russell's?

[pong]

here are the pics...

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/40488full_spread.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/40488attack_mode.JPG

[Absint Reefer]

red volitan (http://www.totallyfish.com/marine/images/marine02.jpg)
here you go man

[pong]

got it! thanks!

[Xander57937]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6561527#post6561527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Carson
no horns and lighter than a black bolitan would be a red volitan

[VolitanLioness]

That is a red volitan, a russells lion would not have spots on the fins other-wise they do look the same.

The horns/ antennas you are talking about can fall off, all 3 of volitans have lost theirs.

Kaye

[warren4066]

thought red volitan and russel is the same thing.

[VolitanLioness]

A russells Lion stays smaller than the volitan, it gets 10-12 inches, where the Volitan gets 12-15 inches.

I took this from the Info sheet:

Russell's lions are one of the more commonly available lionfish in the hobby, and are frequently misidentified as "red Volitans". Juvenile Russell's lions have a whitish body with dark brown vertical stripes. The pectoral fins are pale white with light brown and blue spotting. As the animal grows and ages, the body pattern becomes more diffuse and turns rust-brownish in color, while the pectoral fins turn darker and lose the spotting. The second dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are clear with an occasional brown spot.

[McCrary]

I work in a fish store and I have never seen a Russels lionfish on the list, could they be mistaken for a volitans by those who have kept lionfish?

[VolitanLioness]

Yes they can be mistaken for a Volitan, I seen one in a LFS last summer & it was marked Volitan but it was a Russell's. I could only tell by the fins with no spots, I should of bought it but they wanted like 65.oo for their lions, still should of bought it.....lol

Look here towards the bottom, they show both fish....
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-11/fm/feature/index.php


Kaye