Babby CowFish BoxFish 1 Inch

[wnppmy]

Read these can release toxin if badly threatened, rated expert to medium care, likely better with slower feeders, did take readily to jellyfish frozen plankton, but will use brine as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0ulSZUX4e8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[rssjsb]

If that's what I think it is (longhorn cowfish) I wouldn't worry so much about the toxin issue. The bigger issue is keeping these little guys alive.

They tend to eat well and not be too picky, so you shouldn't need to rely on a low-nutrient food like brine. They will take pellets pretty readily, and grow quickly. Unfortunately, it is VERY difficult to get them to adulthood. I'm not sure why, but I suspect some nutrient deficiency.

I had one about the same size as yours that ate like a pig (fed it NLS pellets and a variety of frozen foods) and doubled in size in a little over a month. One day it just died. This was in a 20-gallon QT. I had some other fish in there with it (can't remember which ones) who were totally unaffected.

If you can get it to adulthood, I hope you've got a big tank. In the wild they get to be about 18" long. I suspect that one growing up in an aquarium might get to 9 or 10 inches at least.

 

[wnppmy]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Perhaps my fatty jellyfish plankton may help. Obviously a lot of other possibilities going on.

Correct on size they can get big, either trade or my excuse to finally get a bigger tank.

 

[rssjsb]

I've never heard of jellyfish plankton. Where do you get it?

Good luck with him. I absolutely adore these fish.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I've never heard of jellyfish plankton. Where do you get it?

Good luck with him. I absolutely adore these fish.

LA has some now; they are incredible, but very difficult. I tried 3 over several years, then kept another for about 8 years before Katrina.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Oh yeah; I think this is a Cubicus Boxfish (Ostracion cubicus); at least that's what I was jabbering about.

 

[wnppmy]

The jellyfish plankton is a fatty frozen for actual jellyfish, from JellyFish Arts. Found my fish love it as well.

http://www.jellyfishart.com/shop/jellyfish-food

This smaller guy perhaps requires frequent feedings, not just flake, also turning down or off the pumps during feedings. Sure loads of other issues. Is an amazing fella.

 

[rssjsb]

LA has some now; they are incredible, but very difficult. I tried 3 over several years, then kept another for about 8 years before Katrina.

How big did yours get in 8 years?

On the ID, I don't really know enough to tell the difference at that size. Longhorns don't get their "horns" until they are a little bigger. The toxin issue is probably a little more worrisome with the ostracean boxes, especially if it is in a smaller tank. It sounds like you lost a couple without the "tank wipeout" problem people are always talking about.

 

[MrTuskfish]

How big did yours get in 8 years?

On the ID, I don't really know enough to tell the difference at that size. Longhorns don't get their "horns" until they are a little bigger. The toxin issue is probably a little more worrisome with the ostracean boxes, especially if it is in a smaller tank. It sounds like you lost a couple without the "tank wipeout" problem people are always talking about.

Packers have a bye week and I'm in withdrawal, plus I don't have my notes from that time. So my memory may be a little off.

The two I lost about 1994, both lasted 4-5 months. I kept them in my 180 "wussy fish" tank with very mild-mannered tankmates. They both ate very well, started them in the QT with live brine. After that they would eat anything. Both appeared to be going downhill for a few days, then died I have no clue why, neither seemed to release any toxin. Both were about 3" and labeled "Indo-Pacific" origin. I avoid fish without more info on fish origin now; especially Indonesian and Phillipiines fish.

The 3rd one was <2" when I got him, never lost much of his yellow color or spots, and left with Katrina at about 8'' in 2005. I think this fish was from Sri Lanka. I never had any problems with him, ate anything, including lots of veggie stuff. IMO, these fish just do better with very passive tankmates. No aggression, or even very territorial fish. I kept quite a few butterflyfish and some fairy/flasher wrasse with this one.

 

[wnppmy]

Several possibilities, unfortunately some are caught with cyanide and die later.
Mine is eating the fatty plankton, ignores live brine, but is new. Showed some cow patties right after feed, likely is the CowFish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh-rQZVV4hg&feature=youtube_gdata_player