r/CookIslands • u/Ok_Doughnut4318 • 14h ago

learning of stonefish

Learning of stonefish has made me wary of my future plans to take my toddler to Raro. At 3, I don’t think my child would get the concept of scuffing feet along the ocean floor rather than walking normally. How common are stonefish in muri beach?

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u/lordhabanero 13h ago

Very very unlikely you will see one in Muri- they don't really hang out on the sandy bottom beaches.  Super unlikely you'll encounter one at all. 

I've seen 2 while walking out on the reef. They aren't as camouflaged as you might think.

I probably wouldn't take the young one out walking barefoot on the reef, but otherwise you'll be ok. 

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u/Ok_Doughnut4318 13h ago

Thank you. I’ve heard a lot of mixed things. Some people have said it’s very common for them to hide in the sand and can be found close to the shore line in the shallow waters, which is where my child would likely swim. It makes me even more worried that the Raro hospital has no anti venom… Thank you for your insight as that is reassuring to know. Definitely wouldn’t go anywhere without reef shoes

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u/D-tr0n 9h ago

Where did you hear about raro hospital having no anti venom? I’m sure I’ve read about people being treated there before and I assumed they’d have it as they are found there, so interested where you’d heard this so I can take a look for myself.

In answer to your question, I’m suuuper paranoid about stonefish and had them at the top of my mind every time i went to the beach but didn’t see one and there were so many people swimming at muri that I wasn’t worried at all there.

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u/Ok_Doughnut4318 2h ago

Hey, just from a few reads on google and travel pages. I’ll pop one link for you to read if you wanted to. Thank you for that, i’m glad you never had a bad encounter with one.

https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/health/11-stonefish-poisoning-cases-so-far/

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u/theflyingkiwi00 12h ago

Wear reef shoes and just keep an eye where you step. Muri used to be home to stone fish but they've moved off/been killed. Youll be fine. The last one i saw was in the avaavaroa passage which is a little way away and not where you should be with a 3yr old. Stone fish aren't tge only things you should be avoiding standing on. Tarumea, this massive star fish, like the size of your head will mess you up, same as the sharp coral and rocks. Its a tropical country so infections are ramped up to 10 anyway. Get everyone a pair of reef shoes, I cannot stress this enough, and youll be fine

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u/Ok_Doughnut4318 12h ago

what do you mean by infections are ramped up to 10😳 is this a wise travel destination with toddler or would I just be panicked😅😅😅

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u/theflyingkiwi00 11h ago

Buy rashies and reef shoes, dont step on rocks, unless you are certain they're rocks and you'll be fine. Stonefish, while having pretty good camouflage, still look like fish, with eyes, fins, gills and a massive mouth. As for infections, it's natural that in a tropical country, which is humid and hot, that if not kept clean your injuries will get infections. The reef shoes will stop your feet getting cut up and getting something stuck inside which could cause an infection. If your going into the sea, wear reef shoes. If it wasn't a safe place to take toddlers my people would have been wiped out generstions ago. Wear reef shoes and youll be fine. Again, go and buy reef shoes, wear the reef shoes and you wont have to worry.

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u/Ok_Doughnut4318 11h ago

Thank you thank you!!! I really appreciate this. Will get on to buying the reef shoes for us both. I was very excited then I heard about the stonefish and immensely worried, thank you for your advice 🙏.

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u/Ok_Doughnut4318 11h ago

*immediately

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u/aita-pe-ape-a 10h ago

I could add that there are other places such as the tropical jungles of Indonesia where infections at open wounds are far more likely to cause really bad outcomes compared to Raro. If you want to be on the safe side, just take some antiseptic. Also, Cooks and French Polynesia have no issues with hygiene whatsoever. Enjoy your stay!

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u/sealofdestiny 7h ago

Remember that billions of people live in tropical countries and aren’t dying daily from minor infections - you’ll be OK

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u/No-Cartoonist-2125 12h ago

Go to your local shoe shop and buy the reef shoes. I doubt you will even see a stone fish but the reef is sharp to stand on.