Lionfish Facts

Lionfish are coral mound inhabitants and are very beautiful to behold. There are different types of lionfish such as the turkey fish, dragon fish, and scorpion fish; these fish are famous for their stunning fins and spines. However, their spines are very venomous. The body of the lionfish is crossed vertically with dark brick red bands. The eyes of the fish are hidden by color patterns beneath a pair of horn like curvy growths. The first spines of the dorsal fin are patterned with light and dark marks. All these patterns and shades make each species of lionfish unique and different. The lionfish’s spines are loaded with venom. An injection of venom from a lionfish can be very painful. Lionfish belong to the scorpionfish family and can grow up to 15 inches in length. On an average their length is about 1 foot. An adult lionfish can weigh between 1.2 kilograms and 2.6 kilograms. The life span of a lionfish in the wild can be around 5-15 years on an average. To know more facts about lionfish go through the section that follows.

• A lionfish’s mouth is large enough to gulp an animal nearly as large as its own body. This species of fish does not rely on disguise to hide from its predators. Instead, they use their bright colors and unique patters to remind their hungry predators that they are poisonous.
• Lionfish feed on other smaller fish, but may also feed on their own kind, exhibiting cannibalism (it happens when they have very little prey to feed on).
• During the day lionfish remain in rocky outcroppings, but at sundown they leave their hiding place to hunt for prey such as small fish, crabs and shrimps.
• These unique fishes have few predators. Some fishes may try to eat them, but the venom that they hold in their spines protects them from their predators. Lionfish prey on fishes such as snappers, groupers, grunts and crabs, etc.
• When on a hunt, lionfish corner their prey using their large fins and then suck their prey into their mouths.
• Lionfish are cold blooded and don’t migrate from one place to another.
• The lionfish group usually contains one male lionfish and a few female lionfish that the male lionfish mates with. The male lionfish is highly territorial and protects his territory pretty fiercely.
• The lionfish has very fast reflexes and can move frighteningly quickly when it is hungry.
• A sting from a lionfish is extremely painful to humans and can cause nausea and breathing problems.
• Lionfish reproduce explosively. The population of lionfish in its natural habitat is healthy and is in fact growing. Scientists believe that they lay 30,000 eggs every 7 days
• People stabbed by a lionfish might find it difficult to move their limbs. Death may occur in very rare cases. The venom in the spines remains active for days, so even castoff spines should be treated with caution. It may take several months for a full recovery and if the sting is left untreated, the part may decay thus leading to further complications.