Boxfish death

[skraj011]

I've been interested in all the reports of animals "nuking tanks." I recently purchased a Male spotted boxfish (ostracion meleagris) from Diver's Den. It died 2 days later and was in the 125 gallon tank for ~ 24 hours after it died (I was away). It's skin was sloughing a little when I removed. None of the animals in the tank suffered any obvious ill effects.

Several years ago I had a sea apple who also died in a reef system and nothing happened to the inhabitants of that system either.

Kind of interesting that nothing was nuked either time.


Just wanted to put the information out there.

[ThRoewer]

You may have been lucky that these specimen were already so weakened that the couldn't maintain their toxins.
If you have had one of those die (through accident or attack) that was healthy your experience would have been vastly different

[Dmorty217]

I've been interested in all the reports of animals "nuking tanks." I recently purchased a Male spotted boxfish (ostracion meleagris) from Diver's Den. It died 2 days later and was in the 125 gallon tank for ~ 24 hours after it died (I was away). It's skin was sloughing a little when I removed. None of the animals in the tank suffered any obvious ill effects.

Several years ago I had a sea apple who also died in a reef system and nothing happened to the inhabitants of that system either.

Kind of interesting that nothing was nuked either time.


Just wanted to put the information out there.

Though they can nuke tanks they often don't, especially in mature tanks. I had a sea Apple die and didn't impact the tank at all

[ThRoewer]

Though they can nuke tanks they often don't, especially in mature tanks. I had a sea Apple die and didn't impact the tank at all

How did your sea apple die?
Usually, if they slowly wither away the risk is low. On the other hand, if a strong and healthy specimen is shredded by a pump the outcome might be very different.

[Dmorty217]

How did your sea apple die?
Usually, if they slowly wither away the risk is low. On the other hand, if a strong and healthy specimen is shredded by a pump the outcome might be very different.

Had it for 2 years and fed it often. I suppose maybe it starved.

[skraj011]

Had it for 2 years and fed it often. I suppose maybe it starved.

Similar with mine.

[skraj011]

You may have been lucky that these specimen were already so weakened that the couldn't maintain their toxins.
If you have had one of those die (through accident or attack) that was healthy your experience would have been vastly different

How are you so certain?

[ThRoewer]

Because, back in the days of fish only tanks when boxfish where more common this happened quite frequently. Several members at a local aquarium club back in Germany had it happen in their tanks.

Also, a dealer had a whole display tank killed off when a freshly imported sea apple got shredded by a pump.

The reports about these toxicities are real and not fairytales.

[Dmorty217]

A sea Apple being shredded in a pump is a lot different than dying non violently if you will. Can't speak specifically to the box fish since I haven't owned one. I do plan on getting a long horn cow fish for my 625g so we will see how that goes