Cowfish information

Sleeperr34 · Aug 5, 2017

Today i bought a cute little cowfish for my wife. So tiny lol. Been looking for information on them and just not the most i can find.

Wondering who has had them that can give some info.

Right now he is in our 25g nano but will end up in our 215g most likely when he gets bigger.

Nitrate - 2
Nitrite - 0
Ammonia - 0
Ph - 8.2
Temp - 76

He is a little piglet and was eating 15min after putting in tank.

Was wondering how fast they grow.

Are they like puffers and get ich very easy

If sick what is best way to treat.

Dr. Reef · Aug 6, 2017

They can get big almost 1ft and a half. They are also venomous and can release poison and wipe out entire tank if threatened. Also not reef safe if you keep any tube worms feather dusters etc.

Girthrockwel · Aug 6, 2017

I almost bought a tiny one at the lfs. I looked them up while waiting on the owner to get him out. The part about the toxin scared me away from the purchase.

Gweeds1980 · Aug 6, 2017

Not had cowfish, but did have a yellow spotted boxfish, which are very similar in terms of care and size.

They're gentle giants... mine was in a mixed reef, absolutely fine with everything with the exception of any sort of worm... tube worms, feather dusters, bristleworms etc were all eaten, along with vermetid snails.

They need very calm aquariums, with non aggressive tank mates. I moved mine on as decided to get more tangs. They are susceptible to ich and other parasites and need small, shelled food and not too much flow.

Mine was in a 320g and grew from the tiny 2 inch fish purchased to about 8 inches in 12 months. They do get to about 18 inches, but apparently growth slows massively once they're at about 12 inches. They need a tank which is at least 24 inches wide and with plenty of open swimming space.

The toxin is a worry, but mine never did anything in the time I had it, it's now with a friend in a 240g tank with a fowlr mixed community and is doing fine. He's hit the 12 inch Mark another 12 months or so on.

Sleeperr34 · Aug 6, 2017

Right now he is about the size of a dime.

Thank you for tge responses.

I read about the toxins as well but also read most never had a problem with it.

Will post a pic of him later. When he starts to out grow the nano plan on moving him to a 90g we have empty, then move him to our 215. Just need to make some changes to the 215 and dont want to add him in with how small he is.

Paul B · Aug 6, 2017

I think you have a Boston Baked Bean which are tiny, babies of boxfish. Extremely cute. I never had a lot of luck raising those tiny ones even though they can eat new born brine shrimp by the hundreds. Like was said, the larger ones are much easier and will grow fast. I have seen them in the sea like basketballs. Good luck, I hope he gets basketball size.

Sleeperr34 · Aug 6, 2017

Me too. He will chew on a mysis like crazy as well. Just trying to keep water right and him well fed.

Sleeperr34 · Aug 6, 2017

eatbreakfast · Aug 7, 2017

At that size the 2 biggest concerns are too much flow and feeding it enough. They need frequent feedings while smalp.

They are themost personable fish out there.

I have never had a problem with them releasing their toxin.

That is a little cowfish for sure, not a boston baked bean boxfish.