Cowfish

[jskaras]

Does anybody have any experience with cowfish (boxfish)? I was surprised that a reefcentral search came up with no hits on the subject.

[dynamixone]

it seems alot of people keep away from them. or keep them in species only tank. if they die or get really frightened. they can release a poison in your tank.

IMO not for the hobby. unless species only.

[jskaras]

Thanks. I saw some in Gainesville and in Atlanta and was interested. Basic info was somewhat frightening given the toxin release and that they apparently are not reef safe but I was curious to see if anyone on RC had any experience with them that they could share.

[frednwilma1999]

Not very powerful swimmers. Toxic to boot. I had one that just sat in front of the closed loop and fliped end over end for hours! Not the sharpest knife in the drawer!!!

[WallyBackm]

I have a cowfish and love him. The camel cowfish are hardier than the regular longhorns. They can ice your tank as others have noted, though that's about a 5% probability. Some have been known to pick at corals, but mine doesn't.

[PSU REEFER]

I have 1 cowfish in my 150 for 5 months now---quite a character. Loves to eat seaweed more then my blue hippo tang does.

[MMM33732]

I had one for about a year a while back. I tried to add xenia but the boxfish kept eating it, so I got rid of him. Was a a pretty cool fish though. Always reminded me of a spaceship.

[vanmo92]

No experience but I do like the look of those fish.