Long Horn Cowfish reef safe?

[bigevill1]

I have seen a few pics now of people with these in their reef tanks, but I always thought that they were not "reef safe" Are they? If so I would love to add one to my 210 gallon mixed reef. I have been on a quest lately to find one last fish to add after I finish my sunburst anthia school (should be here thursday).

 

[cristhiam]

I had one for a little over two years, mine did great in a full reef, soft, sps, clams, etc. the only thing is you need to feed it a lot, it's always hungry I miss my cow

 

[cristhiam]

 

[cristhiam]

Here is a video at feeding time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js-_FG8wMhA

 

[Lishoop6]

after they get to be about 6 inches I don't care who u are it will be a ticking time bomb

 

[agreeive?fish]

I dont know about corals but mine ate table shrimp, krill, brine, mysis, like it was going out of style so iam not real sure about how safe they are shrimp/snails/crabs ect... but i do miss my big alien

 

[Chibils]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13301568#post13301568 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lishoop6
after they get to be about 6 inches I don't care who u are it will be a ticking time bomb

I've done some searching and as far as I can see, no one has had them nuke a tank before. They have the potential, but if you keep them happy and healthy, there's no reason for your fish to get nuked. They have to produce the toxin, it's not like it's already there. Stress causes them to "wind up," and eventually they pop.

 

[cristhiam]

mine was 8+/-" when I sold it I still have my clean up crew, he will pick up snails but can't really chew it their mouth it's small even at that size, like I said never had a problem other than I had to feed it a lot, the success on mine was that it was one of the first fish to go in the 120, also when it was a baby it got stuck several times in the pumps, I had to cover them until he reached about 4+/-" then it was able to pull him self out. If you have a large tank I would recommend it, very fun to watch and lots of personality! also very easy to catch if it doesn't behave. Good luck

 

[doublejesus]

what can you keep with them in terms of other fish? I'd like to get one for a 150 but not sure what i can keep with it.

 

[Doris M]

I had one to actually die in my tank and it did not poison my tank like I have been told since then. I bought it from an individual and he never survived the night. Someone told me that you cannot let air hit them like netting them and then taking them out of the water. I dont know if that is true or not. She did that and he didnt make it.

 

[cristhiam]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13304569#post13304569 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doublejesus
what can you keep with them in terms of other fish? I'd like to get one for a 150 but not sure what i can keep with it.

I kept it with a sailfin tang, serveral gobies, clowns, the cowfish is not aggressive to other fish, slow swimmer.