Lionfish taking over the world

[cyberlaz]

Hello,

Long time lurker here who finally registered.

I had to post this story on msnbc.com about lionfish. I used to have on of these guys. He was cool until he just stopped eating. Paid a good amount of money for him. If anything they should go down in price at the LFS.

Lionfish Invasion

 

[jeff209]

i watched that video to. hopefully they can take care of the problem before they mess up the reefs

 

[predator 1]

Blame it on "Hurricane Andrew"

 

[danorth]

I bet I could train this undy to go after them!

 

[sacremon]

Well, lions don't have much in the way of natural predators in their native environment, which is why they are so easy to capture - they don't fear much. Many of the species that harass lions in captivity probably don't in the wild. Being in an enclosed space with few other distractions is probably what leads to triggers, puffers, et al. to pick on lions.

I say it is time for a fish fry.

 

[sentencedme]

HYPOSALINITY IS THE ANSWER BUT HOW????? ASK THE GOVERNMENT....LOL

 

[Clownfish29]

i think we should use this to our advantage. We could stop taking them from their native habitats, where they belong, and start collecting them for aquariums in the areas where they are causing a problem. That way, we could stop that problem of them destroying reefs where they are not native, and the problem of taking too many from the indian ocean and red sea.

 

[aquaman67]

cyberlaz


[welcome]

 

[55gSW]

I agree with Clownfish29.....make it against the law to import any of these lions into the US and let anyone who can catch one in US waters to sell them off. Imagine how many divers would go after these guys if they knew they could make $40 - $50 off each one!

 

[tb27272]

I put a thread under reef discussion on this topic. I realize that people are misled and are told by numerous sources and told a 55 gallon recommended minimum tank size. this could lead to someone turning theirs lose. I have also been told that it is just as likely to be the result of large ships taking on huge amounts of water in their ballast tanks and dumping it halfway around the world. Any input on this theory. I don't think that we should take the blame if we are not responsible.

 

[agreeive?fish]

I have heard of the ballast tank issue with lions several times over the last few years

 

[anbosu]

The idea of six lionfish spawning thousands of surviving offspring in the Atlantic is laughable. Ballast water seems a far more likely culprit.