Longhorn cowfish poison corals?

Fishflakes · Dec 12, 2019

I just purchased a longhorn cowfish from my LFS after spending a ton of time researching them. I've held off buying one because I was afraid of the toxin they supposedly release if stressed or threatened. I finally caved and bought one since the tank I'm putting it in only has two oscellaris clowns, a midas blenny, and a red hawkfish in it, so it wouldn't be a huge loss If it happened. I did not think about corals though and I cant find anything to suggest corals would be in danger. Anyone have any experience with a boxfish toxin hurting corals?

Fishflakes · Dec 12, 2019

The longhorn cowfish ate great the first day. Ate some frozen brine shrimp and half a sheet of nori that first day. Today it seems to be less willing to eat. It hasn't touched a new sheet of nori I set out, and it actually blew the shrimp away when I tried to spot feed him. He might just be getting used to the new tank I suppose, but i dont like to see a fish refuse food. Normally that's a sign of a problem in my experience.

Daniel@R2R · Dec 12, 2019

Glad he seems to be doing better

Fishflakes · Dec 12, 2019

Daniel@R2R said:
Glad he seems to be doing better

That's what I mean. He ate great the first day I had him. Today he doesnt seem to want to eat. He might still be getting used to my tank I guess.

tag62001 · Jun 27, 2020

Fishflakes said:
That's what I mean. He ate great the first day I had him. Today he doesnt seem to want to eat. He might still be getting used to my tank I guess.

How's he doing? Did he come out of it and adjust?

Back where it all began · Jun 27, 2020

I have one and they are quite hardy. Mine eats like a pig. I feed Rods herbivore blend and seaweed pellets for all. My cowfish likes to hang out in my leather corals, type of camouflage. He’s never eaten anything but food. The poison factor is highly overrated as think what these tiny creatures have been through just to reach your tank. Mine is very tame and eats out of my hand.

tag62001 · Jun 28, 2020

Back where it all began said:
I have one and they are quite hardy. Mine eats like a pig. I feed Rods herbivore blend and seaweed pellets for all. My cowfish likes to hang out in my leather corals, type of camouflage. He’s never eaten anything but food. The poison factor is highly overrated as think what these tiny creatures have been through just to reach your tank. Mine is very tame and eats out of my hand.

Thanks very much, I have a tiny one coming next week ( tiny as in .75"-1") very excited they and green Mandarins are my favorite and I have a biota mandarin lol so I can't wait.