🐠 Antennata Lionfish (Pterois antennata)
Striking Striped Lionfish • Elaborate Fan-Shaped Fins • A Nocturnal Showpiece Predator
 
📋 The Antennata Lionfish, also known as the Spotfin Lionfish or Ragged-Finned Firefish, is a dramatic marine predator with bold red, white, and black vertical stripes, elaborate fan-shaped pectoral fins, and distinctive tentacle-like appendages above each eye. It's native to coral reefs, rocky crevices, and lagoons across the Indo-Pacific, and it's most active from dusk through dawn, typically retreating into caves and rockwork by day. Subdued lighting in the aquarium encourages more natural, visible activity.
Like all lionfish, its dorsal, pelvic, and anal spines are venomous. A sting is similar to a strong bee sting but longer-lasting and more painful, and some people may have an allergic reaction, though lionfish stings are rarely fatal. Long tools during maintenance and feeding keep it safe.
Every Antennata Lionfish we ship is feeding well, and live saltwater feeder shrimp are a great first food before moving across to frozen foods. As an ambush predator, it will eat any fish or shrimp small enough to fit in its mouth, so tankmate choice matters. It's generally peaceful toward fish too large to be seen as prey, but adults can become aggressive toward their own species.
 
💡 Highlights
🎨 Dramatic Striped Pattern: Bold red, white, and black banding with elaborate fins
🌙 A Nocturnal Hunter: Most active from dusk to dawn
🛡️ Venomous Spines: Safe with long tools and care
🐟 Not Fully Reef Safe: Will eat small fish and shrimp
🧠 Intermediate to Advanced: A patient feeding transition rewards you