Pterois volitans (Lion Fish):
 

Natural History:

• A tropical inhabitant of coral reef communities, lion fishes are slow moving and conspicuous.
• They rely on their unusual finnage to discourage would-be predators.
• They inject toxin from the hollow bones of the dorsal and pectoral fins, by whipping the fins towards a target.
• Though divers and beach combers have reported excruciating pain that could last for several days, no known human fatalities have yet been directly linked to the venom of this fish.
• Divers have reportedly drowned in response to the pain of a sting, however.

• A predatory species that often hunt in what appears to be groups.
• The lion-fish belongs to the Scorpion fish family.
• This brightly coloured fish is usually found in coral reefs, especially in shallow waters hovering in caves or near crevices.
• The fish have elongated dorsal fin spines and enlarged pectoral fins, and each species has a particular pattern of zebra like stripes.
• Lion-fish have venomous fin spines that can produce painful puncture wounds.

• Lionfish can be kept in a reef situation, but be aware they will eat crustaceans like crabs and shrimp.
• They will also put a large biological load on the aquarium since they need to be fed meaty foods regularly.

• Rapid swelling of the affected body area develops along with the possibility of making movement of limbs very difficult.
• Lion-fish stings can cause nausea, breathing difficulties, paralysis, convulsions and collapse.
• Even death may occur in exceptional circumstances. Most people survive in spite of the great pain.
• The venom in the spines remains active for days, so even discarded spines should be treated with caution.
• It may take several months for a full recovery and if the sting is left untreated, gangrene may develop.

At first immerse the affected area (most often a hand or foot) into hot water. This is thought to improve the blood flow and disperse the venom. Local anesthetic agents may provide deep relief in most cases and occasionally a nerve-block may be required. An X-ray of the wound should be performed to detect any presence of broken spines, so any possible infection can be prevented.

Additional Comments:

• This is a very popular species in the marine aquarium world.
• Few public aquaria lack a lion fish exhibit, and they are also frequently seen in restaurant and home aquaria.