Lion Fish... How Dangerous?

[mr.reef24]

As long as your careful and watch where your lion-fish is at you won't have problems with getting stung

mr.reef24

 

[Noddy]

As long as your careful and watch where your lion-fish is at you won't have problems with getting stung

I have been stung 15 times

mr.reef24

You're either not carefull, or doing maintenance at nighttime, with the lights turned off!
Or you handled them quite a bit, and i guess it's the last...

 

[spotfin]

I've always been curious myself. Lionfish are definitely my favorite saltwater fish. I would probably start off with one of these guys if I ever get a saltwater tank started.

When they sting...is there pressure that is needed to puncture you or is it like a Jellyfish where all they need to do is brush up against you?

Yes, pressure is required.

 

[BIGgourami]

When they sting...is there pressure that is needed to puncture you or is it like a Jellyfish where all they need to do is brush up against you?

they need to stab you with a spine

honestly unless your grabbing the fish for whatever reason (caught in a net, retrieveing a dead one, etc) or you simply don't see and go to pick up/move a "rock" you're not likely to be stung
it's purely a defense mechanism, they aren't going to swim into you as an attempt to stab you

 

[mr.reef24]

You're either not carefull, or doing maintenance at nighttime, with the lights turned off!
Or you handled them quite a bit, and i guess it's the last...

unfortunately I don't always know there are lion-fish in a tank when I clean out our tanks at work which is no excuse but makes the point of always look before reaching in or around your tank. However this has given me some funny stories though of stupidity from my end

mr.reef24

 

[BIGgourami]

tell me you don't carry stonefish

 

[seanneok11]

Just put your hand in hot water and the swelling would go away

 

[SoloWizard]

When I was 16 working in a LFS I got stung by one. I was wiping some algae off the tank and was doing it fine like i have done many times before. I don't remember what made me take my hand out in the first place(maybe to help a customer) but when I put it back in to resume cleaning the Lionfish was right there. He caught me with 3 spines across the top of my hand.

It hurt alot worse than a bee sting but it did go away. Hot water was applied as hot as you could stand it. I remember have the hot water on it then one of my managers who was helping would poor bleach on my hand. Then put it right back in the water.

The hand swelled up for a few days then went away. Then a day after that it swelled up again so I went to the hospitol. They really had no idea how to treat me since it was such a rare case. They hooked me up with some very good antibiotics and I was good to go.

There...Thats my story..haha Sorry prolly rambled a little much there.

 

[mr.reef24]

tell me you don't carry stonefish

well we carry stonefish, sea goblins, scorpion fish etc.... lol

mr.reef24

 

[Ang]

The wife really likes the lionfish, but I have my concerns about being "stung". How likely is it that I will get stung by one of these? I have a 180 gallon tank. I think these are beautiful fish, but I am really worried about being nailed during tank maintenance. Should I be concerned or just take the plunge?

man up