Like many of my posts, my January 20 post on the lionfish invasion in the Caribbean and the Atlantic coast got me more interested in this species.  I was particularly intrigued when reading an article where an observer noticed a single lionfish eating as many as 20-30 fish in a single hour.  This seems to be quite an appetite and further helps to explain the danger of this invasion to the fragile reefs in these areas.

The lionfish has been known to attack and devour fish almost 1/2 to 3/4 the size of the predator.  When the dorsal and pectoral fins are completely spread, the prey feels completely cornered and trapped and often makes only weak or  no attempts to flee.  This clearly aids the lionfish in the hunt.   The appetite of the lionfish also seems to be gigantic.  They often times consume their own weight in fish in a single day.

The video below gives a good view of the tenacity of the lionfish when feeding.  Notice how a “miss” does not deter the lionfish at all; he simply continues to attack until the attack is successful.  We would love to have your comments on this post and others posts on our blog.

Phil Ellis

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