Scorpion Fish – Sting, Information and Characteristics

The scorpion fish is also known in Spain as lion fish, widely used in aquariums for its different colors. It is a very beautiful fish and almost always moves 25 centimeters from the bottom of the water, either in its natural state or in aquariums. It has large dorsal and pectoral fins with red and white colors which have a large amount of poison.

The poison is found on the tips of each fin and is highly toxic; these fins are connected to several glands. These glands are responsible for producing this deadly poison, which they use to defend themselves against predators. The colored fins tend to  camouflage themselves in the depths with the reefs, which is why some divers get confused.

Almost every time they touch it, believing that it is a plant, they receive a very big puncture and it causes a lot of pain. This puncture also produces nausea and dizziness, that is why as soon as the diver feels the puncture, he must get out quickly.

This fish originates from the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean but has spread throughout all the seas of the world. It can reach almost a meter in length, its growth is very fast, almost always after a year of life it reaches its average size; its colors always vary according to its environment and the amount of light it receives, and this fish is a nocturnal animal.

He goes out to eat at night where there are a large number of small fish and fry in the depths that are encouraged as a plant. It is a carnivore that feeds on small fish and even its own size; you will never see it eating marine seedlings.

Generally, in many parts of the world they are hunted to prepare exquisite dishes, but they are also used in aquariums. Its colors and large fins, its calm way of swimming make it look great in aquariums.

Global warming and changes in water temperature have made this species more widespread throughout the world. It belongs to the Scorpaeniformes family, its scientific name is Pterionsantenatal, and it houses its prey with great speed.

This type of fish has caused us to have problems on the coast of Spain with the production of grouper, since they eat their fry. These fish are considered invasive and considerably affect the ecosystems of the seas and the production and conservation of many species.

It has come to affect nautical tourism, since this fish has punctured many divers who do not know this species. On the other hand, you can make many recipes with scorpion fish or lion fish such as sushi, lion fish ceviche, baked stuffing, fried with green plantain, mojito, roasted, and grilled, among others.

Instructions

Next, we will give you some recommendations in case of a puncture with a scorpion fish:

1. If you are swimming on a reef with scuba gear, try not to brush any part of your body with the bottom.
2. At the bottom of the reef there are always many camouflaged marine species that are ready to defend themselves. The scorpion fish is a master of camouflage.
3. Among these, you can be the scorpion fish or lion fish with their large fins with spines on each of them.
4. Generally, in the dorsal spines they have more or less 18 to 20 fins connected inside to a gland.
5. This gland produces a large amount of poison that, when you touch it with your skin, injects a large amount of toxins.
6. If you feel a big prick under the water and a great pain that spreads throughout your body, get out of the water immediately.
7. If you don’t get out of the water quickly, the pain can make you pass out and become unconscious and drown.
8. You can run out of oxygen from the equipment quickly because your breathing and heart rate become very rapid.
9. Then, you will feel very dizzy and lose a lot of strength; because of the pain you can suffer muscle cramps.
10. When you are out of the water, identify the site of the puncture, ask someone to check you if you have a buried thorn.
11. If you have the thorn buried you should remove it and wash the puncture well with soap and water, do not put a tourniquet.
12. The tourniquet can make the poisoned limb worse and lead to complete limb loss.
13. Then, heat water and place it in a container, so that you put the affected part in hot water.
14. The hot water causes the poison to dissolve inside your tissues, losing its ability to destroy them.
15. If you can pour a little salt and ammonia into the hot water, this will help reduce pain and infection.
16. You should be taken to a doctor immediately so that they can give you the most recommended treatment.
17. Sometimes surgical procedures have to be done, as the spines become embedded within the skin.
18. This should only be done in specialized sites to avoid strong infections, using sterile materials.
19. Some people have had to have their entire foot or leg amputated because of infection.
20. Others because someone recommended that they put on a tourniquet so that the poison does not spread and it is worse.
21. Since the tourniquet cuts off blood circulation, the tissues in the affected area die faster.
22. Whenever you go diving you should have a first aid kit on hand with various types of medications and anti-allergy.

What do you need:

• A container or container with hot water.
• Soap.
• First aid kit.
• Radishes
• White onion.
• Sugar.
• Garlic.
• Aloe Vera
• Salt.
• Ammonia

Tips

We will give you some recommendations in case you are stung by a scorpion or lion fish:

1. Wash the puncture site well with soap; immediately put very hot water on the site to relieve pain.
2. The doctor who examines you will recommend local and taken antibiotics, these can be done naturally.
3. A powerful antibiotic can be made by placing a clove of garlic cut in half on the site where you received the puncture.
4. You can boil grated radish with white onion and a little sugar to make natural antibiotic syrup.
5. You will take this every 6 hours a day for 8 consecutive days until the wound caused by the puncture heals.
6. You can make a sibilant smoothie with lemon and orangeto remove all the impurities from the colon and liver.
7. When people have a dirty colon, it contaminates the person’s liver and blood, causing it to become more infected.
8. If this fish manages to inject the poison in the area of ​​the face, it is more dangerous; you should try to get to the hospital as quickly as possible.
9. Since you will not be able to reduce the pain much in the face because you cannot put very hot water.
10. If you put very hot water on the face the person can receive first degree burns.
11. On the other hand, if you are a diver, we recommend that you fish this fish for human consumption with a harpoon.
12. Of course, you have to be very careful with its poisonous spines, but it is very tasty to make many dishes.
13. It is a bit difficult to see why it blends in with the reefs, so we recommend that you catch it during the day.
14. In general, it is easy to catch it because it is a sedentary fish during the day and they are available in large quantities.
15. When you are preparing it, you must use special safety gloves and very sharp knives.
16. By removing the guts and removing the scales, you can eat it fried, roasted or stuffed in the oven.
17. You can also prepare different types of sushi and different types of ceviche, with lots of vegetables.
18. This fish is also being used in some naturalistic companies to extract the famous fish oil.
19. Fish oil or omega 3is being sold more and more in the world and as this fish is a threat to the ecosystem.
20. They are fishing a lot to maintain the balance of the seas and oceans because this fish has no natural predator.
21. The human being is giving a hand to Mother Nature by contributing to the fishing of this species.
22. It has spread throughout the world’s oceans as a result of pollution and global warming.
23. In such a way that there are already companies that not only fish but are also reproducing or raising these fish.
24. They are raised in large artificial pools, with a special alignment to be able to have more quantities and produce more omega 3.
25. This fish is extremely fast growing and after a year it already has a large enough size to be consumed and used.
26. Also, some factories are using it to make cat food, either canned or processed into dry food.
27. Being of great domestic use for our cats and with many nutrients and active proteins.
28. Finally, they also reproduce or fish them to market them and exhibit them in aquariums.
29. Because of its exuberant colors and its stealthy way of swimming from one place to another, as well as its camouflage.
30. Always remember to have the telephone numbers and addresses of the nearest hospitals at hand when handling this fish.
31. Remember the toxic and painful puncture of these weights so beautiful and so used in these times.