vetteguy53081
Well known Member and monster tank lover
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
RGB
Article Contributor
Tampa Bay Reef Keepers
West Palm Beach Reefer
Hospitality Award
Ocala Reef Club Member
305 Reef Club
Wisco Reefers
Midwest Reefer
Fish Medic
MAC of SW Florida
Rock Pool Reef Keepers
R2R Secret Santa 2023
My Tank Thread
My Aquarium Showcase
We were discussing yesterday a unique fish that is not owned by everyone. They come and go in the market and are often misunderstood. While not the easiest to care for do provide some unknown benefits.
We are talking about the Boxfish, in particular cubicus which has relatives. Like a cowfish, it has a body which contains armor like plates covered by skin and contains poisonous glands. They also can reach an easy captive length of 8-10". They require lots of hiding spots and coverage as they can be shy. While they are a very hard fish to keep in which I stopped selling them at my LFS - they are not for everyone and often starve or mysteriously found dead while looking healthy. They should be in a tank with bright light and GOOD water quality with a skimmer unit as they do not tolerate nitrites well. Some foods to feed them are brine shrimp, small plankton, mysis shrimp, nori, chopped shrimp, chopped clam, chopped crab meat and chopped mussels which make up a good part of diet in the wild.
As they mature, surprisingly and unknowingly, they will eat bristleworms, tubeworms and some flatworms.
How many of us own/ have owned a boxfish?
How long have you had it?
What are your successes and downfalls with this type of fish?
Would you recommend it to a fellow aquarist?
We are talking about the Boxfish, in particular cubicus which has relatives. Like a cowfish, it has a body which contains armor like plates covered by skin and contains poisonous glands. They also can reach an easy captive length of 8-10". They require lots of hiding spots and coverage as they can be shy. While they are a very hard fish to keep in which I stopped selling them at my LFS - they are not for everyone and often starve or mysteriously found dead while looking healthy. They should be in a tank with bright light and GOOD water quality with a skimmer unit as they do not tolerate nitrites well. Some foods to feed them are brine shrimp, small plankton, mysis shrimp, nori, chopped shrimp, chopped clam, chopped crab meat and chopped mussels which make up a good part of diet in the wild.
As they mature, surprisingly and unknowingly, they will eat bristleworms, tubeworms and some flatworms.
How many of us own/ have owned a boxfish?
How long have you had it?
What are your successes and downfalls with this type of fish?
Would you recommend it to a fellow aquarist?
Last edited:
