The world’s oceans are home to a vast array of mysterious wonders. From the highly intelligent octopus or dolphin to the bizarre creatures lurking miles below the surface, the lord’s aquatic creations are awe-inspiring.
One particular fish native to the Mediterranean Sea and East Atlantic Ocean has garnered a reputation for its otherworldly qualities. The golden-striped Salpa sarpa or Salema porgy has attracted attention in recent years because of its psychoactive properties.
Most recently, Stanford University launched a study on the so-called “Dreamfish” to try and determine why its brain and organs can induce LSD-like effects on those who consume them. Notably, the Ancient Romans are said to have recreationally ingested the Sarpa salpa at parties to induce altered states of consciousness. It is also rumoured to have been used as a sacrament in Polynesian ceremonies.
The school’s France-Stanford Center For Interdisciplinary Studies has been investigating this topic during the 2024 to 2025 academic year. Many believe the ocean critters do not cause hallucinations because of chemicals naturally occurring in their body, but rather due to a diet that includes toxic macroalgae and phytoplankton. This process has been referred to as “ichthyoallyeinotoxism.”
“This project will identify the dietary origin of ‘Dreamfishtoxicity’ and examine the impact of toxin-mediated interactions on seagrass ecology and conservation,” the researchers said in a recent blog post.
Despite widely accepted theories about the fish’s diet, many still debate the exact cause of the phenomenon. Some believe that DMT present in the Salema porgy may be responsible, but nobody has been able to definitively prove what makes the fish extraordinary.
“Although the specific mechanism is not yet understood, the active compounds in Sarpa salpa are thought to modulate the serotonin system, similar to other hallucinogenic substances,” commented XEIA Venture Partners founder and psychedelics enthusiast, Brom Rector, in 2023. “This interaction may lead to intense visual hallucinations and altered perception.”
The most recent documented cases of individuals consuming the fish and becoming intoxicated occurred in 2002 and 1994.
Twenty three years ago, a 90-year-old man ate one on the French Riviera and started experiencing auditory hallucinations and nightmares for two nights. The dreamfish he ate had not been gutted properly and the experience was unintentional.
The latter case in the 1990s also occurred in France when a 40-year-old male ingested a baked Sarpa salpa at a restaurant and started tripping out so hard within a couple hours that he ended up in the hospital. Both of these cases were documented in a 2006 study published in the journal Clinical Toxicology.
Furthermore, a National Geographic photographer is alleged to have deliberately chowed down on one. He got a chef to broil it for him and was quite pleased with his experience.
“It was pure science fiction,” said Joe Roberts. “I saw a new kind of car, steered with a stick like a plane. And then, I was taking pictures of a monument to mark man’s first trip into space.”
Others adventurous people have claimed to see Batman or pink elephants, according to French toxicologist Dr. Luc de Haro.
Its head and liver are said to be the most mind-altering body parts, particularly when eaten raw. When prepared correctly, it is considered to be a delicacy in certain countries like France, Spain, Tunisia and Israel.
The Salema Porgy (Sarpa salpa) is no ordinary fish! Known for its golden stripes, it can cause 36-hour hallucinations when eaten, a phenomenon backed by modern cases. In the Roman Empire, it’s said this fish was savored for its mind-altering effects, possibly used in rituals or… pic.twitter.com/0XiMh2dy7d
— Steph Kent (@covertress) July 20, 2025
Read more: Mexican ibogaine clinic sees increasing number of veteran guests
Read more: Germany becomes 1st EU nation to prescribe psilocybin for depression
Follow Rowan Dunne on LinkedIn
rowan@mugglehead.com
