Yellow Boxfish

[psycho-killer]

is the yellow boxfish reef save ?

 

[dilbert]

You mean the long-horned cowfish?

That isn't regarded as reef safe.

Apart from nibbling at tube worms he feeds on crustaceans and on green stuff. I don't think he eats particularly corals but the clean up crew might get decimated always a bit from time to time ...

I don't know how are behaving the very small ones that are mostly sold in stores but after one year they'll be much greater.

The toxin they can release is an often overestimated issue as they release it only when fighting with their own species or when really threatened what is easily avoidable in both cases.

 

[psycho-killer]

no, i mean the yellow boxfish....


http/images.google.co.za/images?um=1&amp...=yellow+boxfish

 

[-Nemo-]

Cowfish is another term for a boxfish

 

[Lynden]

I would say yes. They don't eat ornamental crustaceans, but tubeworms or, more rarely, dainty corals such as Xenia may be picked on. This can normally be remedied by extra feeding; they find it difficult to compete in an average reef tank and often go hungry.

As I have often said I don't recommend them for anyone. Ostraciitoxin acts as a biocide in a closed system, and though it is rare for them to release it the risk still exists. Try them if you will, but keep a good skimmer and an unopened package of carbon around. It also helps to keep a bucket of salt water mixing as well, so you can do a fast water change if need be.

 

[andywg]

Have to chime in with Lynden here. These things have the ability to really nuke your system if they get too upset. Makes them a risk to keep.

 

[dilbert]

Cowfish is another term for a boxfish

Mostly, a boxfish with horns is called a cowfish.

This site is quite informative, but some info is surely debatable as always:

http/www.cowfishes.com/