Lionfish
or volitans
are venomous fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae whose
literal translation
means scorpion fish.
There are five
genera and 16 individual species commonly referred to as lionfish.
Their
natural habitant is among the reefs and rocky crevices of the
Indo-Pacific and
the Red Sea. This
species is not native to warmer tropical
regions of the world. Recently established populations have appeared in
the Eastern
Atlantic,
the Caribbean
and the Mediterranean
Seas.
They are becoming more and more common place off the Florida
coastline.*
The
lionfish
is
inarguably
one of the most exotic creatures you will ever
see in a home aquarium. They are one of
the most prized fish in the
aquarium
trade. There are 11 species from two distinct genera
(Pterois
and Dendrochris)
readily available to home aquarists. The Dendriochirus
lionfish’s
fins
form a solid fan with individual fin rays held together by a connective
membrane.
Pterois lionfish have long
flowing fin rays that are individually sheathed by the membrane. The
fins on a Pterois extend well past their tail.
There is one
species of lionfish, the Pterois
sphex,
which
resides only in the waters off the shorelines of the Hawaiian Islands.
Regardless of the species everything about
these fish, from its regal fanned main to its cantankerous
demeanor,
says, “You don’t want to mess with me.”
This fish is also marketed under the
aquarium trade names turkey fish, dragon fish, scorpion and fire fish.
All
lionfish have
distinctive fins as well as fin and body striping. Color
palettes and size are particular to species. Dwarf lion fish only reach
an
adult length of 5-6 inches and can be kept in an aquarium as small as
30
gallons. Other species can grow to in excess of 15 inches and will
require a 75-100
gallon tank. These are among the most poisonous creatures found in the
ocean
and should only be kept by expert aquarists.
Lionfish
are
voracious
predators. There are very few species in the wild
that would even consider harassing one more or less attempting to eat
it.
Strangely enough, their venomous fins are not used for the purpose of
predation. They rely on their natural camouflaging and split-second
reflexes
for hunting.
Lionfish
capture their prey
by boxing it in with their large fins and then swallowing it whole.
Their venom
is used strictly as a means of defense. When threatened the lionfish
will lunge
at its opponent with its up to 18 needle-like dorsal spines erect and
ready to
neutralize the aggressor.
Due
to its
predatory and
venomous nature lionfish are best suited for a
mono-species or multiple lionfish species tank. You can keep more than
one in
an aquarium. You will want to take the fish’s current and
potential adult size
into consideration. Lionfish have been known to prey on one another.
Lion
fish
are
carnivorous.
Smaller fish can be fed frozen carnivorous marine
food products. They will also readily eat brine shrimp. Larger fish
should be
fed feeder shrimp or small fish.
Although
not
generally
marketed for consumption, lionfish are considered a
culinary delicacy in some regions of the world.
*Nonnative
Aquatic Invasive Species Assesement
In
1992 a Category 5 hurricane, Hurricane Andrew, ripped
through the Caribbean capsizing boats and destroying a public aquarium
in
southern Florida.
By 2000 there began to be sightings of Lionfish (a venomous and highly
predatory species endemic to the Indo-Pacific) along the coast of Florida.
The
continued
non-indigenous prorogation of this species created concern
among ecologists. Adult
Lionfish are capable of reproducing every 55 days
year round. Their eggs are released to drift way with the currents. Within
two years, lionfish had been reported in Georgia,
the Carolinas, Bermuda and the Bahamas.
They have since spread from as far north as Rhode
Island
to as far south as Belize.
This species has
multiplied at a rate that was previosly unimaginable to marine
biologists. In
just a single decade
they have transformed from being
nonexsistent to completely pervasive, eating or starving out indigenous
populations, disrupting commercial fishing and threatening the safety
of tourist
wherever they take root. DNA testing confirm that this underwater
invasion was
the direct result of the offspring of as few as three but probably not
more
than six lionfish being introduced into the equation. Scientists
speculate that
the initial introduction of these species was an unforeseen result of
Hurricane Andrew. It is yet to be determined the full extent
of
human and environmental dangers these creatures will pose in their new
breeding
grounds. All attempts to contain their propagation and prevent them
from establishing
feral populations in the Western
Hemisphere
have
failed.
