My friend recently returned from diving in Cozumel, Mexico and he saw lionfish there. These things are everywhere and are here to stay. Anybody know what keeps them in check in the Indo-Pacific? I went diving in the Solomons Islands and while I saw lionfish I only saw them in a few locations and certainly not on every dive.
Lion Fish have arrived
- Thread starter smb2
- Start date
gasman059
The OG mad scientist
All started back around August ,2000.
Unfortunately without any natural predators in southeastern waters, lionfish put indigenous marine species at risk due to competition for food and space and their role as a predator of smaller fish.
Some say it happened down here from an aquarium destoyed by Andrew, I believe they have done genetic testing to prove this theory. But I bet there's some that might have been from capsized transport boats. Anyways they are serving them in Bimini and the Bahamas. SO EAT UP GUYS
Unfortunately without any natural predators in southeastern waters, lionfish put indigenous marine species at risk due to competition for food and space and their role as a predator of smaller fish.
Some say it happened down here from an aquarium destoyed by Andrew, I believe they have done genetic testing to prove this theory. But I bet there's some that might have been from capsized transport boats. Anyways they are serving them in Bimini and the Bahamas. SO EAT UP GUYS
So from what ive read-
the current theory from where exactly those lionfish off the florida coast originated is unclear, however, the current working hypothesis is from a release of 8 fish from a hobbyist aquarium due to hurricane andrew. Mitchondrial DNA analysis from over 100 lion fish has shown 2 invasive lionfish species (P Volitans, P Miles), that the examined fish were all derived from a few founder fish (most likely the 7 or so released from the aquarium) and these fish originated from the indo-Pacific. I've not read or heard anything about a N.O release of lions unless that data are w/in the last few months. The atlantic lionfish are growing larger and have a higher population density than their S Pacific counterparts (15" Vs 18" SL, and 80fish/hectare Vs 393+/- 144 f/h)
The unfortunate part is that the lionfish's natural predators are not found in the atlantic waters, also indo-pacific lionfish are cannibals with adult lions consuming small lions, this appears one way they keep populations down, however in the Atlantic they appear not to be doing this as food resources are very abundant.
Lastly, i was in Bermuda 3 months ago and one restaurant had lionfish tempura which was amazing (taste like a light flaky grouper) and another resturant had coconut encrusted lionfish w/ a mango salsa- also very tasty. I have to admit as much as i love lionfish- its definitely an eating fish.
the current theory from where exactly those lionfish off the florida coast originated is unclear, however, the current working hypothesis is from a release of 8 fish from a hobbyist aquarium due to hurricane andrew. Mitchondrial DNA analysis from over 100 lion fish has shown 2 invasive lionfish species (P Volitans, P Miles), that the examined fish were all derived from a few founder fish (most likely the 7 or so released from the aquarium) and these fish originated from the indo-Pacific. I've not read or heard anything about a N.O release of lions unless that data are w/in the last few months. The atlantic lionfish are growing larger and have a higher population density than their S Pacific counterparts (15" Vs 18" SL, and 80fish/hectare Vs 393+/- 144 f/h)
The unfortunate part is that the lionfish's natural predators are not found in the atlantic waters, also indo-pacific lionfish are cannibals with adult lions consuming small lions, this appears one way they keep populations down, however in the Atlantic they appear not to be doing this as food resources are very abundant.
Lastly, i was in Bermuda 3 months ago and one restaurant had lionfish tempura which was amazing (taste like a light flaky grouper) and another resturant had coconut encrusted lionfish w/ a mango salsa- also very tasty. I have to admit as much as i love lionfish- its definitely an eating fish.
philter4
New member
About 3 years ago I was contacted by a research scientist who is a student and was working toward his PhD thesis, he was studying the expansion of the lions range and needed DNA to figure out the parents of the ones showing up in the Carolinas, I agreed, but I told him that any that I collect I wanted someone to keep, either for him to keep or to donate to a fish store or where ever, but that I wouldn't release them back as they are not native and very damaging to the local ecosystem. They did not hire me as they wanted them to return the fish to the ocean and if I wouldn't agree to that they would not use me to collect them. IMO it is an invasive species that can do no good to the environments, breeds easily, and should be removed, I had and have no problem keeping them alive, but I remove any I find while diving.
In the Pacific large groupers and sharks will take Lion Fish. The groupers are good at swallowing things head first so the spines don't seem to be an issue.
The Lion above had a full belly because it had just eaten two Damsels, but I wasn't quick enough on the trigger. They seem to eat more then other predators and the mature quickly and reproduce non stop. But stuff is eating stuff all the time. This is from today.
The Lion above had a full belly because it had just eaten two Damsels, but I wasn't quick enough on the trigger. They seem to eat more then other predators and the mature quickly and reproduce non stop. But stuff is eating stuff all the time. This is from today.
