Umbrella has taken a step into Saltwater...

[pufferfreak]

Yup. Thats him bonnie.

[FishFan]

There is a lot of urban legend surrounding boxfish's toxicity. There are many types of boxfish, and some are known to be more likely to wipe out tanks by releasing toxic slime, such as the Blue Spotted or Hawaiian Boxfish (Ostracion meleagris). Cubicus, Longhorn, Hovercraft/Helmet/Pyramid, and all other Boxfish can release poison into the water and perhaps even wipe out a tank if highly stressed. It depends on the fish, but generally it takes a lot of stress to cause the intentional release of toxins by the fish. The poison is not, for example, released simply because the fish is picked on and is not automatically released if the fish dies. The boxfish toxin is manufactured when the fish decides it needs it as a component of the fish's slime. It is a self defense mechanism that can also kill the boxfish, so it takes a lot to cause the release. Usually it takes more than just getting chased or harassed. Our Helmet Boxfish was literally nibbling a smaller Longhorn in the same tank to death when we purchased him, but our Helmet was not poisoned. If your exercise common sense, it is unlikely your boxfish will poison your tank. For example:

* The toxin is quickly removed by carbon, which can prevent a tank wipe out completely. It is a good idea to have fresh carbon in your tank when a boxfish is under stress, such as when first added, when sick, or when netting for removal.

* Large tanks dilute the effects. Ideally you'll want a 150+ gallon tank. This is a no-brainier since a Cubicus Boxfish can be as larger than a foot and a half.

* Any dead fish left in your tank for a long time can cause a wipeout, not just poisonous ones. We saw a tank lost due to a large snail crawling into a corner and dying and going unnoticed for a couple of days. A decomposing puffer releasing tetrodotoxin is worse than a newly dead boxfish that didn't release poison before dying.

* Never add shipping water into a tank, no matter what species, but especially with boxfish.

* Don't put incompatible species in the same tank.

The most difficult part of caring for a Boxfish is their need to eat almost continuously. The most common cause of death in boxfish is starvation; they need to eat almost continuously. They are the complete opposite of puffers, which consume large amounts of food and can then go a day or so without feeding. They don't get a rounded tummy so you can't tell when they are full or starving. All three of our boxfish eat continuously, either grazing on algae or eating the left over scraps that are too small for our puffers to bother with.

According to http://www.cowfishes.com/cube.html , the Cubicus Boxfish is also an incredible jumper.

[Umbrella]

Ok here is a pic of him. Sorry my tank is a little dirty, I spilled water during the last change and the salt crusted on the outside of the tank.

[Umbrella]

Is it the yellow boxfish? Like this one.. http://www.freshmarine.com/cubicus-boxfish.html

If so it needs a 150 gallon+ tank and if it dies can release a toxin that could kill everything else in the tank... sorry I dont mean to sound so dramatic!

Nope. He isn't yellow, hes more of a white with black and blue spots.

[StormySkiez]

What a beauty! I really like the color. How in the world do you have room for all your fish?

Lot's of good info there FishFan. Thanks for sharing .

[pufferfreak]

You know your stuff fishfan. How many ostraciids do you have?

[pufferfreak]

Oops. Meant what species?

[FishFan]

Puffer Freak, we have:
Lactoria cornuta (Longhorn Cowfish) - Me-Me
Tetrasomus gibbosus (Humpback, Pyramid, or Hovercraft Cowfish ) - Hatak
Ostracion cubicus (Yellow Spotted or Cube Boxfish) - Quebee (ours looks a lot like Umbrella's with both black and white dots at the same time)

[pufferfreak]

Can you post some pics of yyou gibboses as i am interested in aquiring one. Perhaps for my birthday. And what are your expeirences with them? Do you have ful tank shots of you cowfish tanks?

[Nick]

The pet store where I work now has an Ostracion cubicus in stock. Cute little guy, under 3".

[Umbrella]

What a beauty! I really like the color. How in the world do you have room for all your fish?

Lot's of good info there FishFan. Thanks for sharing .

Thanks I have a whole room dedicated to just puffers really. All the tanks in the one room make a lot of noise >.<

I actually saw some puffers for sale today that I do not have in my tanks currently. They had some T. Lorteti's but sadly I had to pass them up... as I am now out of room

[Jase]

I actually saw some puffers for sale today that I do not have in my tanks currently. They had some T. Lorteti's but sadly I had to pass them up... as I am now out of room

time to go tank shopping, and break down some walls.

[pufferfreak]

Seriously jase. Thats what i feel like doing.

[cobra1713]

OK is there a small box fish? and if so can they survive with percula clowns, damsels, and firefish?

[Umbrella]

OK is there a small box fish? and if so can they survive with percula clowns, damsels, and firefish?

Most of the Boxfish I believe can grow to 17 - 18 Inches in the wild but stay a little smaller in aquariums. I'm not sure if there is a 'small' species. As for keeping 1 Boxfish with those other fish. Personally I don't ever want to see a tank full of dead floating fish in very poisoned water because someone wouldn't leave the boxfish alone.... SO I would never put a boxfish with anything other than 1 or 2 small, docile gobies. Not worth the risk to me. I know Damsels and some clowns can be really mean if they want to be, but maybe some others know better. I'd say to have a boxfish in a community tank, your tank would have to be at least 1000 gallons to avoid the poison tank of death if he were picked on too much. Keep him alone or with just a few fish that will not bother him ever.