Lionfish Display Comes To Georgia Aquarium
Come April, and the Georgia Aquarium plans to open 1,000-gallon exhibit on lionfish - the colorful tropical fish with showy fins and venomous spines that are invading the state’s coast like an out-of-control weed.
Because lionfish, which are native to the South Pacific, have no natural predators in Georgia waters, their population is exploding and thus having a negative impact on native species, including small grouper, crustaceans and anything else that the lionfish can swallow whole.
While researchers have not been able to put a finger on their population in the region, their tendency to reproduce quickly, and their fearlessness, thanks to the non-lethal but incredibly painful venom in their spine, means they invade with impunity.
The aquarium will put more than 40 lionfish in the tank in an attempt to educate visitors about invasive species and discourage the practice of dumping unwanted fish in oceans and streams. The fish will be about 5 inches to 9 inches long. [Via]
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