Cowfish Or Not ?

[427HISS]

Lactoria fornasini 9" Cowfish.

https://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productDetail.asp?did=1&pid=421&cid=13

 

[MSB123]

There has been a ton on input here- I’ve had 3 longhorn cow fish, and the first two I gave away when they were 2-3” or so, but this last one I just gave away because it outgrew my 180. I got him when he was just under an inch, he grew to over 8” in just under 2 years. THEY ARE FAST GROWERS. I would not recommend getting one in any tank under 200 gallons or so. I love them so much and I am upgrading tanks just to get one again. My new tank is a 350. Please reconsider or at least have a place to move it to once it gets too big.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Can't they produce a toxin or something that will wipe out a whole tank?

 

[lion king]

Lactoria fornasini 9" Cowfish.

https://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productDetail.asp?did=1&pid=421&cid=13

That would be a great find, the one that mostly shows up are the Lactoria cornuta. This is the one that gets huge, if they live that long, they have a dismal survival rate. Good points made on their care, which would be similar for the Lactoria fornasini. The small one would work in the 125 as long you could provide the proper conditions and choices of tank mates, and you could find one.

 

[427HISS]

Which species did you have ? I was not aware that one can grow over 15" and the second to 9". I feel that we may not have a home for "Horny" lol. We treat fish as family, so we don't want to rehome him just a few years later. Very sad....

They seem to have the same fun personality like our favorite fish, the Clown Trigger.

 

[427HISS]

Can't they produce a toxin or something that will wipe out a whole tank?

Yes they can, but so far with my study, no one has ever had this happen.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Yes they can, but so far with my study, no one has ever had this happen.

That's crazy, I wonder how ineffective that is in their giant natural habitat.

 

[427HISS]

I would imagine when the fish gets worried when a predator approach 's, he hides in a hole and might gas it if it gets too close, so that narrows down the area.

 

[radiata]

I believe Ich has an affinity for cowfish/trunkfish/burrfish/etc. Strongly suggest you do a complete quarantine before adding one to your system. Caveat emptor..

 

[427HISS]

I believe Ich has an affinity for cowfish/trunkfish/burrfish/etc. Strongly suggest you do a complete quarantine before adding one to your system. Caveat emptor..

I agree,
Every,...fish and coral's go through QT in our home.

 

[Julie kerley]

We're setting up a 125g and we have always liked the personality, shape and intelligence of the horn Cowfish. Since they can get around 8" or so, should we bring one into our family or not ?

I would not. They can get quite large and require a lot of room. I waited until I set up my 300 gallon to get mi e

 

[Jon Fishman]

So, I ultimately picked up a Cubicus and a Longhorn Cowfish.

I was told that someone brought one back to them after only 18 months, fully grown......

 

[427HISS]

Do you know what he was when first bought ?

 

[Jon Fishman]

Do you know what he was when first bought ?

I just bought him. So I know what I’m getting into!

 

[427HISS]

He's very cute, like a little tug boat !

We had a name picked out,..."Tug" but, on one of my weekend car shows, one guys name is "Horrine Mike", a great airbrush painter. Everything in his life has horns, like his motorcycle helmet has horns, his custom school bus, etc.

So his name will be Horrine Mike.

 

[427HISS]

What other fish do you have and size of tank ?

 

[lion king]

So, I ultimately picked up a Cubicus and a Longhorn Cowfish.

I was told that someone brought one back to them after only 18 months, fully grown......

You are not saying one of the ones pictured was brought back because it was fully grown are you. They look pretty tiny.

 

[427HISS]

Maybe he shrunk him ? lol

 

[Jon Fishman]

You are not saying one of the ones pictured was brought back because it was fully grown are you. They look pretty tiny.

No. both mine now.... One Cubicus and one Cow

 

[Jon Fishman]

What other fish do you have and size of tank ?

The Cow, a Cubicus box (8” max I guess) and a Quoyi Parrotfish. 8’ tank, 20” deep. Not sure it will be enough