Lionfish

[Flower1982]

I was just wondering how poisonous are lionfish?
The pet store that I work at sells lionfish and I sometime have people ask me how poisonous they are. We usually sell the dwarf lionfish if that makes a diffrence.

[Fishieness]

the stings are a little worse than a beesting. but jsut like a beesting, if you are allergic...well... that isnt good
the best thing you can do if you get stung by one is to run it under really really hot water or use a hairdryer to get the affected area really hot (probalby not a good idea to use the hairdryer AND the really hot water.... electricity and water dont usualy end in good results. ahha ;) ). this will denature the enzyme and basicly make it less harmful.

[fuzzydwarfs]

dwarfs have the same toxidity as the volitans...

JO...

[Squawkbert]

I'd rate it as worst than a beesting.

I knew of one LFS employee who went into anaphylaxis when stung due to allergic reaction. He even had a mild MI but was OK in the end.

Here's what I found at: http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic300.htm


Background: The family Scorpaenidae represents a large array of fish characterized by the ability to envenomate with various types of specialized spines. This group of fish is responsible for the second most common piscine envenomation, after stingrays.

Unfortunately, this family of fish has a confusing variety of common names, which tends to hinder accurate field identification, classification, and understanding of their envenomations. It is helpful to consider the Scorpaenidae family as 3 distinct groups, based upon their venom organ structure and toxicity.

These 3 groups and their representative genera include the following:


Pterois - Long, slender spines with small venom glands and a less potent sting (eg, lionfish, zebrafish, butterfly cod)

Scorpaena - Shorter and thicker spines with larger venom glands and a more potent sting (eg, scorpionfish, bullrout, sculpin)

Synanceia - Stout, powerful spines with highly developed venom glands and a potentially fatal sting (eg, stonefish)
Injury and envenomation are reported in the natural environment (eg, accidental exposure to waders, divers, fishermen), as well as in the home setting (eg, handling by unwary marine aquarists).


Pathophysiology: Common to the family Scorpaenidae are 12-13 dorsal spines, 2 pelvic spines, and 3 anal spines. Each spine is associated with a pair of venom glands. A loose integumentary sheath covers each spine. The sheath is pushed down the spine during envenomation, causing compression of the venom glands located at the base of the spines. Venom then travels from the glands through anterolateral depressions in the spines and into the wound, in a manner analogous to that of a stingray envenomation. The pectoral spines, while often ornate and plumelike, are innocuous. The venom toxicity is due to antigenic, heat-labile proteins of high molecular weight. Treatment is based on the proposed heat-labile characteristics of these proteins.


Frequency:


In the US: The true number of Scorpaenidae envenomations is unknown. However, there are more than 100 reported cases of captive lionfish (genus Pterois) envenomations in the medical literature, nearly all of which occur on the hands of unwary marine aquarists. Reports from coastal locales commonly involve fisherman, divers, and other water enthusiasts who inadvertently may step on or carelessly handle members of the Scorpaenidae family.
Internationally: This large family is widespread throughout the tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. Some species are even found in polar regions. No accurate estimates regarding the international frequency of Scorpaenidae envenomations are available; however, they are not uncommon. While the tropical seas contain the majority of species, the temperate waters of the Indo-Pacific, India, South Africa, Australia, Philippines, China, Japan, and the United States are home to many venomous Scorpaenidae.
Mortality/Morbidity: The severity of Scorpaenidae envenomations is progressively worse from Pterois to Scorpaena to Synanceia species.

Pterois (eg, lionfish, zebrafish, turkey fish, butterfly cod): In one series of 101 described cases of captive lionfish (genus Pterois) envenomations in the United States, 92% of patients experienced local pain, 60% experienced edema, and 13% experienced systemic symptoms. There were no fatalities. Wounds were graded with the use of a grading system, and 95% of the wounds were found to be grade I (erythema), 4% were found to be grade II (vesicle formation), and 1% were found to be grade III (tissue necrosis). Pain was relieved with hot-water immersion therapy in 97% of the patients, and 0% of the patients required antivenom administration. One patient required intravenous antibiotics, one hypotensive patient responded well to intravenous fluids, and 13% of patients had variable, less severe, systemic symptoms.
Judging from this and other reports in the United States, the vast majority of lionfish stings appear to result in uncomplicated wounds with severe local pain that is responsive to immersion therapy.

While reports of fatalities exist, detailed documentation is sparse and deaths must be very rare.

Scorpaena (eg, scorpionfish, bullrout, sculpin) and Synanceia (eg, stonefish, warty-ghoul, "nofu"): Wound severity and systemic symptoms are generally accepted to be greater in Scorpaena and Synanceia envenomations as compared to Pterois envenomations. Of some controversy is the purported lethality of these envenomations. Fenner and Williamson note the absence of any well-documented Australian fatalities or life-threatening symptoms and go on to cite only 3 specific references in the literature of death attributable to envenomation by stonefish. One of these cases (Mozambique, 1957) was postulated to represent direct intravascular deposition of venom or, perhaps, anaphylaxis, as the victim's foot showed no local reaction. Other reports describe deaths occurring days or months following envenomation, raising suspicion of secondary complications (eg, wound infection, tetanus). Whatever the actual mortality rate is following a stonefish envenomation, the number of confirmed human deaths is much fewer than commonly believed. Nonetheless, severe and incapacitating local and systemic effects are well described.

So, deaths - very rare for stonefish, Lions not nearly as bad, hot water will help ameloriate effects of high mol. weight toxins from Lionfish...

[Flower1982]

Thanks for all the info everyone.
I don't know much about saltwater tanks and fish.