Stone fish sting

[Bubble Junky]

Stone fish - Taken in Grand Cayman

That's a Scorpionfish too.

 

[alcina]

Maybe these old shots will help:

Stonefish - ugly, very well hidden

Scorpionfish - frilly, wide colour and pattern variation, sometimes well camouflaged but other times just deluding themselves

 

[Bubble Junky]

They move very differently from each other too !! If you're lucky enough to see a stonefish move - they're as lazy as they are ugly !!

 

[cudachaser]

Stone Fish are so ugly only their mothers could love them. A few years back I got stung twice in one day. Suffered no I'll affect other then pain

 

[MarkUK]

Joe, you were bloody lucky. If they really were stonefish that you got stung by twice – and not scorpionfish – to only feel pain is a miracle. My mate just barely scraped his knee against one of the main spines of a big mother stonefish in the Red Sea, and within five minutes, he was in unbelievable agony, his leg swelled up, he started running a fever and was vomiting uncontrollably. Luckily, we were close to medical attention (or as close as you can be from dive sites in Egypt) and after a two night stay in hospital, he was alright, but they had to pump him full of all sorts of drugs and painkillers. He is an ex-para and he said it is the worst pain he has ever experienced. So count yourself lucky, my man!

Mark

 

[divermatt]

Wow. I've been diving in the Red Sea, Caymans and the Bahamas...and I have never heard of these species. I guess I better just be glad I don't touch stuff...

Also, based on this thread, I'm going to start carrying a knife when I dive...But I'll leave it on the boat. The very thought of you people trying to do first aid on me...

 

[johnnyseko]

Maybe getting away from the topic, but....

So do scorpionfish have a similar type venom? Serious enough for medical attention like the stonefish?

Curious as I've almost put my hand down on top of one, thinking it was a rock.:11doh:

 

[The Mighty Thor]

I saw a stone fish on my last trip to Aruba. My dive buddy pointed it out to me several times before I could finally see it. Looked like a shaggy rock with eyes. I can see how people might step on these things

 

[Bubble Junky]

So do scorpionfish have a similar type venom? Serious enough for medical attention like the stonefish?

Scorpionfish, lionfish and stonefish are all in the scorpionfish family (Scorpiondae). They all have protein venom , I think, so the first aid is as pointed out early in this thread - try and 'cook' the venom by submerging the effected area in very hot water (as hot as can be tolerated).

 

[vel525]

Also, based on this thread, I'm going to start carrying a knife when I dive...But I'll leave it on the boat. The very thought of you people trying to do first aid on me...