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    What It’s Like to Get Stung by a Lionfish… A Reminder to Wear Gloves

    The Volitans Lionfish. Creative Commons, BWF. I’ve been stung, bitten, and scrapped by countless animals in the trade, but I’ve never experienced a Lionfish sting. After reading Niel’s story of the initial sting and the spine pieces that were then embedded in his finger tip, I can say with certainty it’s an experience I am willing to forgo. Check [...]

    volitans-lionfish

    The Volitans Lionfish. Creative Commons, BWF.

    I’ve been stung, bitten, and scrapped by countless animals in the trade, but I’ve never experienced a Lionfish sting. After reading Niel’s story of the initial sting and the spine pieces that were then embedded in his finger tip, I can say with certainty it’s an experience I am willing to forgo. Check out his time line of swelling, antihistamines and pain: Niel’s Lionfish Attack from 2007.

    Granted this happened while scuba diving, but  another reminder to wear gloves when dealing with potentially noxious animals.

     

     

    [cover photo : myxi]

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    • Nicholas Sadaka

      My brother and I just saw a case of a lionfish stinging on Animal Planet this weekend where the guy had a severe reaction…certainly does not seem pleasant. They also have these series from I guess the with John Stoneman and I’ve found 2 sets at Best Buy-one 6 disc series was about the Coral Reef and the other was about Killers of the Reef and one episode was specifically about poisonous and venomous creatures. They showed a ray using it’s barb on a dummy leg, they disected a scopionfishes spines so you could see the venom and it was all very interesting. I’d really recommed his series’ if you can find them.

    • Jeremy Maneyapanda

      Over ten years ago, I got whacked by a lion with 4 good strikes across the back of my hand. For 15 days my hand was swollen to the point of not being able to touch my index finger to my thumb. The pitting edema continued for about a month. The pain for the first day is something I wont forget. I actually bit my tongue several times (which, I guess constitutes chewing) and didnt even know it because of the pain. I will never again house a lionfish, or other venomous fish.

    • stunreefer

      While working in a local fish store a few years back I had the pleasure of experiencing this… not fun! It was a baby Volitan, and you’d think it would not be too bad… wrong! At the time I wish it would’ve bit off my hand and gotten the whole thing over with ;)

    • http://blog.marinedepot.com jeffry r. johnston

      Thanks for sharing the link and finally satisfying this curiosity of “I wonder what it’s like to…”

    • Jbell

      Stug by lionfish, while in the Cayman Islnds. The fish injected its spine into left middle finger. After soaking in hot water, swelling reach all the way to my shoulder before it stopped. My finger proceeded to turn black and I was in tremendous pain, like nothing experienced before. 5 hour later was in the ER where after having IV peds, I was taken in to have the dead black skin cut away. Leaving me with a hole in my finger the size of a nickel. Have returned back to the states. My hand is still numb………will see a doctor first of next week.  Avoid all contact with lionfish

    • Capnemo

      Stung 3/9/2012 in Grand Turk.  We were spearing them, and I was attempting to cut off the fins with scissors when the diver holding the spear moved, turning the spear over so that a dorsal spine hit the back of my hand (no kevlar there.)  Pain was immediate, but not really sharp.  Was able to finish dive and actually cleaned several more.  By 3/14, though still very swollen, was able to help paint the outside of my house.  Swelling never got above mid-forearm.  Swelling went down considerably but then got worse so I finally saw a doctor (3/19) and am currently on antibotics.  If swelling doesn’t diminish by tomorrow will go in again for XRay to see if barb is still in there.  Will continue shooting them but will take spear away from the diver before cleaning.