are Box fish okay to have.-Tropical Fish-3reef Forums

vegasfish · 05-05-2008, 10:29 PM

I was wondering if it is okay to have a Box fish or a Long Horn Cow Fish as a begginer to marine aquariums. I have read that if they get stressed or die they can release a toxin that will wipe out the entire tank. How likely is it that this could happen. I really want to get one but I don't want to wipe out my tank either. "double edged sword"

mandarin11 · 05-05-2008, 10:35 PM

I wouldn't get one if I were a beginner. What type of tank are you looking at making, a predator or reef? How big is it?

feixjai · 05-05-2008, 10:38 PM

^^^ I've read the same thing too. When they die, they release toxins that kills everything in the tank. It also depends on the kind of tank you are trying to set up. Is it going to be a FO, FOWLR, reef

Jason McKenzie · 05-05-2008, 10:46 PM

Both those fish are species tanks only. meaning you would build and design your tank around those fish. it would likely be a Fish only tank. With heavy filtration and no corals

J

vegasfish · 05-05-2008, 11:31 PM

thanks for the replies. it is a 65 gal tank. I am planing on soft corals with community fishes. I guess I will wait to get a box fish. thanks for the help someday down the road I will build a tank just for one.

phoenixhieghts · 05-06-2008, 12:26 AM

Box fish would feed upon the polyps of soft corals.
I think them dieing and releasing a toxin is blown out of proportion tho, along with everything else that is know to release toxins that kill the tank.
Has anyone actually had it happen to them?
I've had 2 boxfish in the past that both passed, and not one other fatality in the tank.

evojoe67 · 05-06-2008, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vegasfish

thanks for the replies. it is a 65 gal tank. I am planing on soft corals with community fishes. I guess I will wait to get a box fish. thanks for the help someday down the road I will build a tank just for one.

those are my favorite fish. especially the cow, with those horns!.

my lfs, has 2 boxfish, now. one white with black polka dots, one yellow, with black polka dots.

i would'nt dare add them to my reef. i'm actually thinking of setting up a 3rd tank, just for these guys!

hi, my name is joe, and i'm a fishaholic

evojoe67 · 05-06-2008, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenixhieghts

Box fish would feed upon the polyps of soft corals.
I think them dieing and releasing a toxin is blown out of proportion tho, along with everything else that is know to release toxins that kill the tank.
Has anyone actually had it happen to them?
I've had 2 boxfish in the past that both passed, and not one other fatality in the tank.

actually, a customer at my lfs had one in thier tank for a while, along with other types. while they were redoing the room, they removed the fish from the tank, and placed them in a bucket. the move stressed out the box so much, that everything except the box was dead in the bucket!

phoenixhieghts · 05-06-2008, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evojoe67

actually, a customer at my lfs had one in thier tank for a while, along with other types. while they were redoing the room, they removed the fish from the tank, and placed them in a bucket. the move stressed out the box so much, that everything except the box was dead in the bucket!

Must have been something else as the box fish is not immune to its own toxin, if it released it - the box would also have been dead.
More likely not enough oxygen in the bucket.

amcarrig · 05-06-2008, 07:13 AM

If I'm not mistaken, box fish will eat your crustaceans so say goodbye to your shrimp if you have any.