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Volitans Lionfish

Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758)

Also called Red lionfish, Butterfly cod, Turkeyfish, Firefish

SpeciesShort profile

From Indo-Pacific, from Western Australia and the Cocos-Keeling Islands east to the Marquesas and Pitcairn group, north to southern Japan and Korea and south to Lord Howe Island and northern New Zealand.1 2

At a glance the quick version

Length30 to 47 cm1 3 2

Lifespan10 years1 3

Sizemedium

Typically 30 to 38 cm; maximum recorded 45.7 to 47 cm total length.

Maximum reported age about 10 years.

Spectacular mane of fins

Calm, slow and graceful swimmer

Impressive hunting skill

3 2

Looks how to spot one

Scaled scorpionfish with long, flowing fins

An elegant, almond-shaped fish wrapped in bold vertical bands of white alternating with red, maroon or brown. Huge fan-like pectoral fins and a crest of tall, separated dorsal spines give it a lion's-mane look, while the soft fins carry rows of small dark spots. The dorsal, pelvic and anal spines are venomous, so it is handled with care.3 2 1

ColoursWhiteRedMaroonBrown3 2

Personality what they are like

Calm and mostly solitary. It glides slowly and relies on its spines for defence, turning them toward anything it finds threatening, which makes it a peaceful-looking showpiece in a fish-only setup.1 3 2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Mostly active at dusk and night; by day it rests quietly in ledges and caves, often head-down. It hunts by spreading its pectoral fins to herd small prey into a corner.1 2

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Its venomous spines mean nets and hands should be used carefully during tank maintenance. Provide caves and ledges for daytime resting.1 2

Home where they are happiest

A large marine aquarium with reef-like rockwork, ledges and caves. In nature it lives on lagoon and seaward reefs from 2 to 55 m deep at about 22 to 28 °C.1 2

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A carnivore that eats small fishes, shrimps and crabs, swallowing prey whole.1 2

Company who they like around

Often solitary; keep with fish too large to be swallowed. It only gathers with others of its kind for courtship.1 3

The story where it all began

Linnaeus described it in 1758 as Gasterosteus volitans, and it was later placed in the lionfish genus Pterois. Its species name means 'flying', after its wing-like pectoral fins, and it has long been a familiar aquarium and display fish.2 3

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
Its species name volitans means 'flying', a nod to its large wing-like pectoral fins.3
2
Courtship involves circling, sidewinding and leading displays at dusk.3
3
A female can release up to about 30,000 eggs in one spawning, and the embryos hatch in around 36 hours.3
4
Its larvae drift in the plankton for 25 to 40 days before settling on a reef.2
5
Genetic studies suggest it may have originated as a hybrid between two other Pterois species.3

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed March 2015)1
Taxonomy: Family Scorpaenidae; first described by Linnaeus in 1758 as Gasterosteus volitans, later moved to Pterois2

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Volitans Lionfish. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
Temperature checkevery day
Salinity checkevery week
Top-upTop up evaporation with fresh RO water, not salt waterevery day
Water testevery week
Water changeAbout 10 to 20% of the waterevery 2 weeks
Glass cleanevery week

Start a free diary

Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

FishBase: Pterois volitans summary fishbase.seused for distribution, depth, temperature, length, weight, age, diet, behaviour, IUCN status
Florida Museum: Pterois volitans species profile floridamuseum.ufl.eduused for common names, description, size, native range, habitat, taxonomy history, larvae
Wikipedia: Red lionfish en.wikipedia.orgused for description, colours, name meaning, reproduction, fun facts

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.