Scribbled boxfish.... Reef safe?

[Mikefallen13]

Hello,
One of my friends is breaking down his FOWLR tank and he said I could have his 3" female scribbled boxfish (Ostracion solorensis) if I wanted it, I thought it would be a good idea to ask on here before I pick it up. The tank (90 gal) currently has LPS, softies, zoanthids, 2 clams, a large blueberry gorgonian and will have a magnifica anemone eventually. I've read that they love eating tube worms but really mixed information on anything else. Any help would be great!

 

[rssjsb]

I've kept one for about 4 years with sps and softies and some of the less appetizing LPS (torch and frogspawn) but not brain corals or other fleshy LPS (I also keep angels, so those are off the table). She never showed any interest in any of my corals. One of my favorite fish. I'd love to find another.

 

[Monkeyfish]

^ Any issues when it died?

 

[homegrowncichli]

I just got a one inch, long horn cowfish and he's currently in my frag tank filled with SPS, zoos and torch. I had in in quarantine for a few weeks with live mussles and GSP, while training him to pellets. He does eat chopped clams/mussles and shrimps, but doesn't seem to have any urge to go after corals. My only problem now is that he's such a slow feeder and slow swimmer, I don't see how I can place him in my main tank.

SO, toss in a live clam on the half shell into your friend's tank and see if he goes for it. If he does your clams are in danger. Next compare the flow rate between the 2 tanks and try and imagine if he can compete for food in your setup.

Plus there's the risk of toxins if he's stressed or attacked. I read up on my little guy and am taking the chance that he'll die due to natural causes, rather then bullied by fish. It appears tank wipe outs are rare, but can happen due to something as simple as dumping in the shipping water in the bag, or reusing the water from a freshwater dip.

Try him out, second worst case senario, he takes a few bites out of your clams. The clams will close up and the fish is so easy to catch.

 

[rssjsb]

^ Any issues when it died?

Only heartbreak on my part.

Honestly, unless the fish is being attacked or eaten, I think the risk of poisoning may be overblown. I lost two males trying to pair her up in a 40 gallon and there was no observable effect on tankmates. (There was no issue between the fish and nothing bothered them. I just think males are more delicate than females.)

If I could find a healthy specimen, I would get another female or two in a heartbeat.