The red lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a venomous coral reef fish in the family Scorpaenidae in the order Scorpaeniformes. It inhabits the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. The red lionfish also inhabits the east coast of the United States. It was introduced to Bascayne Bay, Florida in 1992 when hurricane Andrew destroyed a home aquarium housing 6 red lionfish. By the summer of 2001, it was found along the Atlantic coast from Florida to Long Island, New York. The Caribbean is also suffering from an invasion, especially around the Bahamas.
Red lionfish are clad in white stripes alternated with red, maroon, or brown. Adults can grow as large as 17 inches (43 cm) in length while juveniles may be shorter than 1 inch (2.5 cm). It has fleshy tentacles which protrude from both above the eyes and below the mouth. The pectoral fin is present in a distinctive fan-like shape, and dorsal spines are long and separated. Every spine of the lionfish is venomous, and while no fatalities due to lionfish stings have been reported, their venom extremely painful.
The Red Lionfish eat live prey and do not eat fish flakes and other processed food.