Artwork © Frontier Developments
Red Lionfish
Pterois volitans · Western Indo-Pacific Ocean
Requirements at a glance
- Scientific name
- Pterois volitans
- Status
- Least Concern
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Biomes
- Estuarine, Reef
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
- Deep water
- 16 m²
- Barrier
- Grade 2 · 1 m
- Group size
- 1–20 (20♂ / 20♀)
- Temperament
- Confident
- Food / period
- $199
Building the tank
This is an aquatic species, so the habitat is measured in water rather than land.
Deep water needs at least 16 m². Deep water is the volume animals actually swim through — decorative shallow water does not count toward it.
Water type is Saltwater. Set it before the animal goes in; a saltwater species in the wrong water will not settle no matter how much space you give it.
Habitat temperature
Terrain mix
Species it can share a habitat with
The Zoopedia lists 11 neutral companions. Neutral means no welfare penalty, but no shared enrichment bonus either — build to the largest space requirement of the group.
AquaticDolphinfish
AquaticGiant Grouper
AquaticBlackspotted Puffer
AquaticJavanese Cownose Ray
AquaticOcellated Eagle Ray
AquaticBlacktip Reef Shark
AquaticSand Tiger Shark
AquaticSailfin Snapper
Budgeting this habitat
Food runs about $199 per period. See how that compares across the roster in our food cost ranking, or start from the best starter animals if this is a first zoo.
Similar species
AquaticBlacktip Reef Shark
AquaticGiant Grouper
AquaticGolden Trevally
AquaticHawksbill Turtle
Figures from the official Planet Zoo 2 Zoopedia, checked 2026-10-21; patches can change them — trust your in-game build menu if they differ. Official entry. Artwork © Frontier Developments; used here for identification.