Lion Fish Facts
Lion Fish Facts
1. A LionFish eats other fish.That’s why it is called a Carnivore which means meat eater.
2. Their initial introduction is thought to have occurred during Hurricane Andrew in 1992 when at least six lionfish escaped from a broken beach side aquarium near Biscayne Bay. The continued release of unwanted lionfish by hobbyists is thought to be cause of additional introductions and the range expansion of the lionfish.
3. The average size of the Lionfish is 11.8 inches to 15 inches. Also the weight could be up to 2.6 lbs.
4. The Lion fish lives on the coast in the Atlantic ocean.
5. The Lionfish is also known as the Turkey fish or the Dragon fish.
6. You can find the Lionfish in most aquariums. It is a saltwater fish but most people mistake it as a fresh water fish because you can keep it as a pet.
7. Lionfish have a striking colouration that is a ‘warning’ to potential predators, reinforced with poisonous dorsal fin spines. Lionfish can remain almost motionless and use their fan-like pectoral fins to herd and trap prey. They have a large mouth for swallowing prey whole with a lightening fast gulp.
8. Top ten most valuable imported aquarium fish. Native to Indo-Pacific Region. Possess unique red, brown and maroon bands; fan-like pectoral fins, and fleshy tentacles below the mouth and above eyes.
9. Voracious predator with venomous spines. Wide adaptability and behaviour. Potentially the most detrimental marine invasive species.
10. Lionfish are generalist carnivores that consume over 70 species of fish and many invertebrate species, capable of eating prey up to half their body length.
11. In the Atlantic Ocean, they have few natural predators, are capable of reproducing year-round, and are relatively resistant to parasites. For these reasons, the lionfish invasion in the North Western Atlantic and
12. Caribbean represents one of the most rapid marine invasions in history.
13. Lionfish are voracious eaters and prey upon numerous species of fish and crustaceans; this broad diet suggests that this species may become a real threat to many native reef fish populations through direct predation as well as competition for food resources with native piscivores.
14. Lionfsh are not poisonous, but are venomous. This means that the meat is good to eat but the venom is confned in the spine.
15. When stuck by a spine of a lionfsh, an intense throbbing and sharp pain soon follows. other symptoms include redness and swelling around the wound, sweating, blistering, headaches, seizures, chills , cramps, nausea, vomiting and a tingling sensation around the afected area that can last days even weeks.
16. To treat, immerse the area in water as hot as bearable and seek medical attention. The hot stream of water from an outboard engine is a convenient source of hot water that can be used. Painkillers can also be administered to reduce the intensity of the venom.
17. Prey are stalked and cornered or made to feel so by the outstretched and expanded pectoral fins of the red lionfsh in full ambush mode.
18. Prey are ultimately obtained with a lightning-quick snap of the jaws and swallowed whole.
19. Cannibalism has been observed for this species.
20. Unlike most scorpionfsh with their camoufage markings, the lionfsh has greatly extended fin spines and striking colors.
21. The species is known to carry a parasitic leech (Myzobdella lugubris) and may serve to spread this or other parasites or diseases.
22. Lionfish are native to the reefs and rocky crevices of the Indo-Pacific, but they are now found in most warm ocean habitats throughout the world.
23. The lionfish has up to 18 needle-like spines, which deliver venom as a defense mechanism.
24. The lionfish has a distinctive appearance with orangey-brown and white zebra stripes, and long pectoral fins.
25. It also has fleshy tentacles above the eyes and mouth and long-separated dorsal spines.
26. Lionfish can grow to 15 inches but are usually not more than a foot long.
27. This fish is mostly popular in the aquarium trade, but are also increasingly harvested for food.
28. Even though lionfish have been found as far north as the coast of Long Island, N.Y., they are probably not able to survive the cold winters.
29. Females release up to 30,000 eggs every 4 days per spawn and can spawn three times per month.
30. Juvenile lionfish eat mostly invertebrates, but shift their diet to fish as they grow.
31. They spread their pectoral fins and use them to “herd” prey. This is a very effective predatory style, as it is unfamiliar to native Florida fishes.
32. A controlled study in the Bahamas reported an 80-percent reduction in native fish over a five-week period on an isolated reef inhabited by lionfish.
33. Lionfish reach full adult size at about 2 years.
34. The venom of the lionfish may be potent even after the fish is dead so care must be taken in handling dead fish.
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