information on yellow boxfish

[silentstorm]

is the yellow boxfish reef safe ?

[flintek]

You're referring to the long-horned cowfish, I presume. It's generally not considered reef safe. The reason being, apart from the occasional nibble on tube worms, its diet consists of crustaceans and various green matter. I highly doubt it's interested in coflakes, but the clean up crew might still take a hit from time to time.

As for the small ones commonly sold in stores, I'm not too familiar with their behavior, but it's worth noting that they'll grow significantly after a year. The toxin they release is often exaggerated, as it's typically only discharged during conflicts with their own kind or when they feel genuinely threatened – both scenarios that can be easily avoided.

[silentstorm]

no, i mean the yellow boxfish... i put a link to what it looks like, check this: http/images.google.co.za/images?um=1&amp...=yellow+boxfish

[coral8]

I think I see what you're getting at now, silentstorm. Cowfish is indeed another term for a boxfish, so I was on the right track earlier.

[zenoxa]

I'm inclined to think they're not entirely reef safe. While they don't bother ornamental crustaceans, they might nip at tubeworms or occasionally, small coflakes like Xenia. This can usually be mitigated with extra feeding, as they often struggle to compete in an average reef tank and tend to go hungry.

That being said, I still wouldn't recommend them to anyone. Ostraciitoxin is a potent biocide in a closed system, and although it's rare for them to release it, the risk is still there. If you're willing to take the chance, just make sure you've got a reliable skimmer and some carbon on hand. It's also a good idea to keep a bucket of salt water mixed and ready, so you can do a quick water change if needed.

[zenfox8]

I've got to agree with zenoxa on this one. The risk of them releasing ostraciitoxin is just too great - it can be devastating to your system if they get stressed. They're definitely a gamble to keep, and not one I'd be willing to take.

[flintek]

To clarify, a boxfish with distinctive horns is often referred to as a cowfish. I came across this site, www.cowfishes.com, which offers some useful information, although as with many online sources, some points are up for debate.