The Puffer Forum

Posted: **Wed Aug 30, 2006 3:10 pm**

Hello i hope you can help me. i have a baby longhorned cowfish acting a little strange. she appears nice and healthy and happy, but sometimes I've noticed that she darts around her tank extremely fast twitching etc, sometimes bumping her head on the side of the tank. i just wondered if i should be worried about this behavior or if she is just showing off because i am looking at her.

Thank you!

Haesel

Posted: **Wed Aug 30, 2006 3:13 pm**

What are the water parameters of your tank?

What size tank?

What do you have for tankmates?

we need moer info.

Posted: **Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:47 am**

Do you have carbon in this tank?

I have personally seen and unfortunately have heard of many hobbyists with cowfish/box fish that have released toxins after getting spooked or dying and wiping out the entire tank.

Posted: **Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:32 am**

It is very important that you answer all the questions asked above, so we can rule out the obvious.

Posted: **Fri Sep 01, 2006 5:46 pm**

Hello thank you for your further questions so that you may be able to help me.

the water parameters of my tank have been tested this morning and they are all at a satisfactory level.

my little cow fish is the only fish in the tank.

my tank size is approx 100 lit res, but my cow fish is only about 2 inch's at the moment i am saving for a bigger tank for her to accommodate her when she gets really big.

i do have some carbon in my tank

thank you and i hope you may be able to help me.

Posted: **Fri Sep 01, 2006 6:11 pm**

The specific parameters would be much more helpful.

That's a really small tank. I don't know specifics for this fish, so I'll let someone else chime in...but I'm sure that's why it's bumping into the glass and such.

Posted: **Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:05 pm**

Yes, please post ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH & whatever else you have a test kit for.

Posted: **Sat Sep 02, 2006 12:45 pm**

In such a small volume of water it could very well be due to the cowfish releasing its toxin into the water.

Adding fresh carbon, doing water changes, and getting a bigger tank would be a good idea.

Posted: **Sat Sep 02, 2006 1:33 pm**

Would a 50g square tank be large enough for these guys? I have an empty tank (holding 100lbs LR & a spill-over of frags for my 90g upgrade) & I want something really special in there.

Posted: **Sat Sep 02, 2006 3:13 pm**

I did a quick search here and found that Jager said a 75g was pretty much the minimum, and that it wasn't suitable long-term. Looking elsewhere online (cowfishes.com), I've seen 135-180g tanks recommended.

Posted: **Sat Sep 02, 2006 3:32 pm**

According to Scott Michael (Marine Fishes book) - long horn cows can reach 18 inches and the min tank size is 180 gallons.

Posted: **Sat Sep 02, 2006 3:37 pm**

There ya go. I think cowfishes.com says something similar...but that specimens rarely get larger than 12" in captivity. I hate hearing that. They only get to 12" because they are kept in small confines.

Posted: **Sun Sep 03, 2006 7:32 pm**

I have had mine for about a year and a half.He was a baby when I got him , he is now about7-8 inches.No signs of slowing down he is in a 130g.I think I will need to upgrade before he is done growing.I started him in a 50 g he out grow that before the end of the year.
the last pic is at about 5 months.The other 2 are more recent.

Posted: **Sun Sep 03, 2006 7:57 pm**

Oh boy, never mind then... I see he's reef safe though!

Posted: **Mon Sep 04, 2006 2:24 am**

he eats some things.He will eat feather worms and starfish.