Question about storing Lionfish with lobster

[Brand86]

If a smoke a few lionfish and store them in zookeeper and come across a lobster and stash him in there as well what’s the chances a half dead lionfish poisons the lobster while in the zookeeper and then I eat a contaminated lobster later?

 

[Johnoly]

If a smoke a few lionfish and store them in zookeeper

I like your wording, lol. So 2 answers from me and others can jump in.

1. poisons the lobster Technically it's venom not poison. A lionfish spine is not strong enough to pierce a lobster's hard shell and since the spines mostly fold down when in the zookeeper, the angle of piercing is not strong enough to enter even the flexible underside of the tail. It's a lotto odds chance but even then, not enough volume of venom would enter. Also that venom wouldn't enter the human tissue like a normal spike injury but rather goes into your stomach if you ate raw lobster meat(don't do that). I carry a modified lobster hotel that has leather like siding so I always store my lionfish with my lobster tails and for the last 15yrs never had a cross contamination issue like mentioned.

2. HEAT. The venom is rendered harmless when heat is applied. Generally about 120 - 140 degrees in 5-10 mins. Since we'll assume that you are cooking either the lionfish filet or the lobster meat, it become harmless. Don't forget that the lobster's Poop-Chute runs right thru the meat and you don't want that bacteria to be eaten raw.

Lastly from a physics viewpoint. The zookeeper has a very tight and stiff funnel opening that is only a couple of inches in diameter. If you catch a legal bug (3 inch carapiece) it's very difficult {not impossible} to get the entire lobster inside the zookeeper. That's why you'll see so many divers carry both a ZK plus a lobster bag.

 

[Brand86]

Perfect that all makes perfect sense I need to grab a lobster bag too. I appreciate the info.