Boxfish/Cowfish...the lowdown?

[Avi]

I have read that these fish can emit a toxin. At the same time, I see them in tanks at fish stores with other fish of all kinds and seemingly, without any problem. Is there anyone here that's kept them and had any negative...or positive results? Thanks.

 

[wickedfish]

yes, they are toxic only when they die or real stressed. But stress leads to death. I have no problem. I have kept a box fish and cow fish that out grew my tank out with no problems 75 gallon, had to return them or get a 120 gallon minimum for them. Key thing is you need a big tank, they grow big and need alot of swimming room. Dont put them in there with any aggrssive fish. That leads to stress and to feed them good. Any lil signs of stress take them out a.s.a.p. Simple reason, when you get home one day and all your fish are floating r.i.p. You didnt do something right, but its to late.

 

[Puterguru]

Here is another thread on it. I personally think the "Their gonna kill everything in your tank" stuff is overated. From the little I have read it rarely happens. I actually had one die in the tank. I purchased a tank along with inhabitants in April and the boxfish didn't make the move. He was just sitting at the bottom of the tank. The next day when I got home he was dead. No lethal toxins, nothing else dead.

Other thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1456499

 

[Avi]

Thanks folks. From what I can tell, this info confirms what I suspected...that there's a possibility that the toxins can be released but it's a very uncommon and unlikely event. Someone in that other thread rhetorically aske something like..."Do you feel lucky?" and my answer is...I'm trying to talk myself into feeling lucky. I saw a Spotted Boxfish in a fish store the other day that's calling my name.

 

[philter4]

I have collected several species of box and cows, and they can and will emit the toxin when stressed, and (at least in our collection buckets) it will kill everything else in the buckets with them. I found a simple solution, just keep them alone until I get home. Once in tanks I've had them die and never had a problem with other fish, but I would not be suprised to hear of other hobbyiests who had problems, things such as tank size, O2 levels, other water conditions, all of these could have an effect if the fish releases it's toxins.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I thought they could poison themselves too? Will they wipe out any corals/crabs, etc in the tank if their toxin is released? Where does it come from & how do they release it?

 

[LisaD]

I know they can poison themselves if left in a bucket and stressed. No reason why that couldn't happen in a tank as well. I don't know if the toxin affects corals and crabs - I imagine it could.

If you have a healthy, eating, pre-QT'd specimen in a tank with non-aggressive fish, it would probably be okay. Do not put with fast swimmers, pickers, or competitive feeders.

 

[Avi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13320965#post13320965 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LisaD
I know they can poison themselves if left in a bucket and stressed. No reason why that couldn't happen in a tank as well.

In my effort to learn about this issue concerning boxfish and cowfish, I have been told that the efficacy of the toxins are diminished and even eradicated by standard fishtank conditions, as opposed to the bucket where they are kept, at least temporarily. That is, in a marine fishtank with water movement, with an effective skimmer and carbon running, the toxin does not have sufficient time to cause harm before it's removed from the water column. This does make some sense, but I don't know if there's any truth to it if, a specimen does indeed emit its toxin in the fish tank.

 

[BADBOYGATOR]

the first 3 fish i had in my 180 tank were 2 clowns and a cow they are a blast very fun fish very interactive and they learn who feeds them mine spit water at every one but me and when i say spit water i mean 2 to 3 feet out of the tank well any ways if you are willing to take the chance then go for it they are a great fish to have in your tank.....on the down side you have to watch what you put in your tank after you get a cow. the LFS i buy everything from told me that they are like haveing a small child they will put everything in there mouth and chew on it ....watch your corals !!!!!!!!! good luck

 

[bluedevils32701]

in my opinion these fish should not be kept. i recently purchased a very rare and expensive shaw's boxfish and had it for a few weeks and it mysteriously just secreted the poison and killed himself. water was perfect and he ate out of my hand from day one. these fish should be left in the ocean IMO

 

[philter4]

Bluedevils37201, how do you know that it was the toxin that killed the box? Could it be that the box was dying and then released the toxin? I've never seen one that wasn't stressed release it's toxin, but that doesn't mean it didn't, I was just curious as to why you think the toxin was released first then it died or the other way around.

 

[phk36]

wow dont know if you want to take that kind of chance

 

[billsreef]

The various boxfish species have various potency of their toxin. The ones that you really need to be concerned about don't typically survive shipping, so the ones you do find in the pet shop are not likely to be toxic enough to be a problem

BTW, an old college professor of mine used to specialize in trunkfish toxin. We use to catch trunkfish for him, dip their mouths in FW for a minute and toss them back in the water. Apparently the toxin is secreted from around the lips.

 

[LisaD]

Bluedevils, what makes you blame the toxin for the death of your Shaw's boxfish? It's a coldwater fish that you got soon after it was shipped from Australia. It most likely endured a number of temperature fluctuations outside of its ideal range, and was shipped a long way. Weren't you keeping it in an unchilled tank, as well? I'm not saying it was your fault it died, but I imagine any fish being acclimated to aquarium conditions is at its most vulnerable in the first weeks and months.

Sorry for your loss.