Lionfish (fish): what is dangerous?

The Caribbean Sea is famous for a variety of fish, shellfish and other marine life. It is for this reason that people like to dive at the resorts of the Caribbean islands. It is here that the lionfish lives - a fish that has an expressive appearance. Despite all the beauty, its thorns are very poisonous, so not only divers, but also bathers should be cautious. A few years ago, zebra fish were not in the Caribbean, it lived only in the Pacific and Indian oceans.

General information about fish

As mentioned above, this creature is considered very beautiful, but at the same time it is a rather dangerous specimen of the Scorpion family. It should be noted that this fish has several popular names, for example, zebra fish, lion fish, striped lionfish. Since the habitat is usually confined to the coastal zone and places where there are many corals, tourists need to be cautious, since by stepping on it with a foot, you are 100% likely to receive a portion of the poison. Adult individuals reach 30-40 centimeters in length, and the weight, as a rule, does not exceed a mark of 1 kilogram. Color - this is the most interesting thing in this specimen. Rays-shoots that open only during hunting or danger can be of different colors: brown, gray and even red. The head of this seemingly harmless fish, in thorns, and near the mouth there are tentacles, similar to those of the catfish.

Fish lionfish: photos and features

It is safe to say that among all the other inhabitants of the oceans and seas of this you will find out right away. This is due to the fact that the fish has a number of characteristics. For example, the absence of rays on the pectoral fins, as well as a large oblique mouth with teeth. Please note that the bright coloration of this representative scorpionovyh says that you should not go too close, and serves as a warning sign. But if the marine dwellers understand such signals, then the person immediately searches for an underwater camera and gets closer to a high-quality picture. Believe me, it is better to find photos taken by someone earlier than to risk their health to see what a lionfish is. The fish, of course, do not attack the first, especially those who are larger than it, but it will definitely be defended. Its peculiarity is that the coloring allows you to disguise anywhere, be it coral, algae or something else.

Is a lionfish dangerous for a man or not?

Let's not take long and frankly say yes. There have been cases even with a fatal outcome, and all this is due to negligence and excessive curiosity. As already noted a little higher, this fish has a large number of rays. Some of them are soft and do not pose a threat, the rest are tough. Inside, deep channels pass through which the poison flows. The more injections you get, the worse the consequences. This poison always causes paralysis of the respiratory and skeletal muscles, and since the swimmer or diver is supposedly under water, it can easily drown. Therefore, the victim needs to call for help as soon as possible and get out of the water. At the site of the injections, small swelling forms, and the wound will be sore for a long time.

Extension of habitat range

Under favorable conditions, the fish develops rather quickly, which causes fear. For example, in recent years, the lionfish has appeared on popular resorts in Cuba, Florida, Haiti, etc. First and foremost, it is dangerous for lovers of seaside recreation, as it can easily be spoiled by stepping back to where the fish rest. But this is not yet all. Since under favorable conditions the lionfish reproduces very quickly and is a predatory individual, it poses a danger to other marine life, in particular, to smaller ones. Most likely, soon scientists will take some measures to reduce the population of lion fish.

A little bit about the content in the aquarium

Recently, the maintenance of such fish in captivity has become extremely popular. No, no, this is not done for the purpose of experimentation, people just buy a lionfish and keep it in the aquarium. In principle, this is due to its attractive and exotic appearance. It is necessary to create optimal conditions for the maintenance of such an individual as the lionfish. Fish in the aquarium should feel comfortable, for this you need to know a few important points. First, the volume of the aquarium should not be less than 200 liters. In addition, it is necessary to take care of filtration and aeration. For this, a special compressor is bought. Since the fish is a poisonous fowl, it simply loves to mask and wait for its prey. In order not to spoil the sensations of realism, take care of installing large shells, snags, corals and other shelters. As for the feed, then a small herb shrimp or something like that will be suitable. When the fish grows a little, it is necessary to give her food with the content of meat or fish. It can even be purchased frozen minced meat.

Passive and active hunting

Most of the free time the lion wings, resting with a belly up, not far from air pockets or caves. Twilight activity indicates that this individual hunts mostly in the evenings. Fish determines for herself how to get food this time. If this is passive hunting, the lionfish widely places its fins and disguises itself in corals or algae. Careless prey too close to the predator and for a split second appears in his belly. By the way, the lion swallows its prey whole, while not always using poisonous rays. More often they are used when the fish feels danger. As for active hunting, in this case the lionfish practically does not use its disguise. She chases after her prey until she is driven into a trap. There she quickly disposes of it and eats. By the way, often the lion fish itself becomes prey, even though it is poisonous. Some larger inhabitants without any problems for their health eat lionfish.

Conclusion

As you can see, the lion fish is very interesting and beautiful, but you need to be extremely cautious. For example, if there is a lionfish in the aquarium, and you are going to change the water, do not put your hands in there, because you can get an injection. Even if the dose is small, you will get a lot of unpleasant sensations. You can not buy a lion today, but you can not name a deficit either. In large specialized stores it is sold in a wide range. This and different colors, sizes. By the way, until today it has not been possible to breed this fish in captivity for breeding, so if you make a purchase for this purpose, you can leave this venture. That's basically all that can be said about how dangerous a fish is a lionfish and what kind of aquarium is needed for it. The aquarium is recommended to be closed with a special lid, since if a fish jumps out, the cat can eat it, and it is possible that you yourself will step on it and pierce the leg. Here we are with you and figured out what she is, a lioness. Fish are dangerous to humans, so be careful.