cowfish reef safe or not?

[mc-cro]

I have been reading about the cowfish the last couple of days, since my interest was peaked in the "must have fish" thread.

Most everything I read on care states that they eat corals and snails, scraping stuff with their teeth, and blowing sand around looking for food.

I would like to hear some real world experience, as I have a mostly SPS tank, and would hate to introduce this very cool fish only to find out he thinks he is at an all you can eat acro-buffet

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

I kept one in a tank with zoas and shrooms, snails, crabs, sea stars, urchins, and had no problems.

Didn't have acros in the tank, but it would be interesting to see!

 

[mc-cro]

thanks jeremy, good to hear he didnt bother the snails and crabs. I worry, because they seem to be omnivores, foraging all day long for food, and if I cant keep him overly fed all the time, he may start grazing on the corals.

I am a little cautious, becuase I just had to remove my hippo tang from the display because he developed a taste for clam.

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

I'd try keeping some algae in the tank as well.

Sorry to hear about the hippo, hope mine don't do the same!

 

[mc-cro]

I have had the hippo and clam together for about 4yrs, and never had a problem.

then I noticed a couple of weeks ago that something was harrassing the clam, as he was always closed, and wouldnt fully extend his mantle when he was open. I camped out one evening in the back of the room, and sure enough, the tang came by and bit off one the little "frillies" around his intake siphon.

that next day I drained the tank and pulled him out from under the rocks. He is in the lagoon now, but I am afraid I need to get rid of him. He has plenty of algea, and swimming lenght, however the lagoon is only 6 -8inches deep. I just hate to get rid of him.

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

How big is he?

 

[mc-cro]

He is only 4-5inches.