Thinking about getting a cow fish

[Ritt]

Thinking about getting a cow fish

Every so often there is a longhorn cow fish for sale at the LFS. They are a very interesting fish and something I would like to get for my 58 gallon reef tank. The only draw back is they get huge and also are not reef safe. I have been researching some other cow fish species and found that the helmet cow fish and Ostracion meleagris appear to stay under the 4-6 inch mark.

I was wondering if any one out there has any experience with box fish especially these species. I would like to get one that stays small and is reef safe. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you

[criccio]

I have this female in my tank and she is great. She stays in the size range you're looking for, and is reef safe, at least mine is...
http://liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?ddid=8828&siteid=20

[Ritt]

Ostracion whitleyi

I will have to do some research on this species. That is hefty price tag for a fish. Where did you find yours at?

I would love to see some pictures of yours.

Thank you

[criccio]

I bought mine locally, and she looks exactly the same as the one in the link provided.

I think most consider the males nicer looking (because they're blue), but they carry a much higher price tag.

http://www.atlantisaquarium.net/images/whitleye.jpg

[Ritt]

ostracion meleagris / blue boxfish
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/67320dd_090506-218.jpg

ostracion whitleyi / femal whitleys boxfish
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/67320dd_071406-216C.jpg


lactoria fornasini / thornyback cowfish
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/67320jb4828.jpg

[Ritt]

I have been doing more research on box fish and cow fish this past week and found that the above species stay with in the 4-6inch size.

I love the coloring of the blue boxfish.

All have the reputation of releasing toxins into the aquarium and I have only read one account of this happening many years ago by an old timer. Is this an urban legend about these fish?

I also have concern if a blue box fish is really reef safe some people say they are others don’t.

Is there anybody out there with experience with these fish?

[raddogz]

This is not an urban legend.

I had a friend years ago who had one, only to come home to find all the fish had died - thw cow fish evidently died first.

[Ritt]

criccio

What kind of fish are you keeping with your Ostracion whitleyi

Thank you

[criccio]

A pair of clownfish, a pair of golden dwarf morays, and a golden dwarf angel.

[Ritt]

I have a

Royal grama
Bicolor angle
Sand sifting goby
Percula clown
Yellow-headed jaw fish

If I were to get a cowfish I don’t for see any conflicts everyone is very peaceful.

Criccio

What do you think? Have you ever experienced your whitleyi releasing any toxin?

[jmaneyapanda]

I dont know if you will get much response. Often, when the boxfish does, it kills itself, along with the other inhabitants. Pretty risky, if you ask me. Furthermore, I wouldn't call these guys reef safe. They will probably eventually start sampling things.

[criccio]

I think your tankmates will be fine. I don't believe my girl has ever released any toxins, at least none of my fish have never shown any signs of any problems. In the research I did I don't recall ever reading about a boxfish taking out a tank, and I would imagine a lot of people buy those little cows or cube ones, and they certainly don't all live, and I've yet to hear of a tank crash because of one.

You might try a search on red flame boxfish (Anaplocapros lenticularis), there's a few members that have had these for a length of time and might offer more info. I will get one eventually as well.

[cristhiam]

My experience with cowfish in a reef have been really good, so far completely safe with clams, sps, lps, softies, zoos, linkias, the clean up crew still with me, it's a very docile fish. One thing is you have to QT they are prone to ick mine came down with ich so I had to pull everyone and treat them with hypo. And any strong powerheads make sure you cover them, mine keept getting stock with my moded maxijets 1200, now it's big enough to pull out of them. even sleeps on one of them now :). Very smart too follows you around and spits water at time of feeding very fun to watch. Eats lots of nori and red algea, love mysis and brine shrimp. here are some pics of mine :) If you run into a problem they are very easy to catch just use your hands not the net.
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~pinatas/cowandacro.jpg
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~pinatas/cowfish-005.jpg
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~pinatas/croceaandboxfish.jpg
He's favorite spot. :)
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~pinatas/powerheadandcow.jpg

[Ritt]

cristhiam

Thanks for the pics is that a thornyback cowfish

thanks

[cristhiam]

no it's a lactoria cornuta (not sure spelling) I know it get's big but it'll take some time. I did a lot of thinking before putting in my tank, I asked a lot of people about it here in RC and other forums, not many in reef tanks. Then I saw the one from Randy Holmes in the chemistry forum beautiful reef and finally I did it. It's like a cow thoug :)

[Freed]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8176568#post8176568 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by criccio
A pair of clownfish, a pair of golden dwarf morays, and a golden dwarf angel.

How long have you had the whitley's boxfish? I am under the impression they are a cold water only species.

[criccio]

A few months now. Cold water, no, it's from Hawaii.

The red flame boxfish (Anaplocapros lenticularis) is from the cooler waters of Australia.

[Freed]

I just read it normally prefers 72-79' water.

[Ritt]

Well I just orderd a blue box fish from live aquria

He will be in on friday

Thanks for the advise

[cristhiam]

very nice take a pic when you get it and good luck. how big that one gets?

[donald altman]

I have intank pumps and my little helmet boxfish is having a hard time with the circulation. Should I not worry with it thinking he will find a calm space and eventualy get stronger and able to
move around all over.. or what?
I had to place nets around my big 800gph pump and it is a good thing.. I found him last night almost sucked into it. the net saved him.. he didn't seem to be worried with it or freaked out.. I wonder now if he was just sleeping there like you said yours did..
I turned the thing off and he didn't come off the pump so I tapped it and he eventualy slowly swam off... almost as if he didn't want too.. he wasn't harmed I later fed and watched him swim around.. I left th epump off but I am not sure how long I shoudl do that with aoll my corals in the tank it is the main circulations.. the 350 and the refugium dont put out alot of
current for my 100 gallon. The box is blown around with the main pump on.. you htink it will eventualy learn where he can swim and where the power head is aimed and avoid it.. I really think I should have my pump turned back on before my corals get upset.. let me know I am really worried about how to handle this.
i LOVE this fish.. he is my far the coolest thing in my tank.
PS he is also the only fish in it... (yeah I think he is cooler then my most prized corals believe it or not)

[impur]

I had a yellow boxfish for a few years. For some reason it died but it did not kill off anything. That was a FOWLR tank.

donald altman - can you get maybe 2 smaller pumps instead of the 1 big one? Might be a simple solution.