Lionfish predators in the Caribbean

[Stoo]

I wasn't sure where to post this, but this seemed as good a place as any...

I posted a shot of a lionfish on FB this AM, which led to inevitable discussions about them. One of my friends is convinced that eventually, local species will figure out how to catch and eat them. I have never seen that happen. Last week, I watched a large snapper eye one, but as soon as the lionfish turned around, the snapper lost all interest and swam off.

Anyway, all of this has me wondering.... has anyone ever seen an indigenous species kill and eat a lionfish? The fact that that snapper gave it a half-hearted effort leads me to believe that it must have tried at some point, and learned the hard way that it wasn't so easy.

So please answer the poll and then expand in your comments!

Thanks!

 

[Stoo]

If you vote that you have, please explain what species was involved, and the circumstances.

 

[IncreaseMyT]

Only in this video, never when I was diving/spearing.

 

[Ministryofgiraffes]

i've seen morays eat lionfish ( uninjured) on several occasions on Turneffe atoll in Belize...Usually when they are trying to escape my spear

 

[Stoo]

i've seen morays eat lionfish ( uninjured) on several occasions on Turneffe atoll in Belize...Usually when they are trying to escape my spear

Interesting... so is it reasonable to say that the lionfish was "distracted"?

 

[INQuarryDiver]

How do the predators deal with the lion fish spines?

 

[Fathom044]

Large Nassau Grouper in Little Cayman. The LF was not speared nor injured. The spines are more of a nuisance for the grouper.

 

[Stoo]

How do the predators deal with the lion fish spines?

When the lionfish is speared... dead or injured... they swallow them head first. When the lionfish is alive, it turns away from the potential predator and fully extend their spines.

I've see Morays grab a dead one by the head and drag it into its lair, but I don't know what happens in there!

 

[Stoo]

Large Nassau Grouper in Little Cayman. The LF was not speared nor injured. The spines are more of a nuisance for the grouper.

That's promising!

 

[Ministryofgiraffes]

How do the predators deal with the lion fish spines?

Yes, every time the moray came from behind through the coral.