How to remove ostracitoxin or tell if it is still present

[sc50964]

My boxfish died from poisoning himself. Luckily I have no other fish in it and I’ve been running carbon and poly filter over the past week. Is it now safe to put more fish in?

 

[DSC reef]

I have no experience with that toxin but I'm following. Very interesting.

 

[eatbreakfast]

How do you know he died from poisoning himself?

A week of carbon should suffice regardless.

 

[Friday24]

What type of boxfish? And are you sure he poisoned himself? It’s been my understanding they only release poison when stressed, threatened, or after they die.

 

[sc50964]

It was a male blue box. I’ve had many box fish over the past ten years. Some are more skittish than others. When fish are poisoned by boxfish toxin, they would quickly become lethargic, with the side fins not moving, but the tail may still move. It’s almost like they are partially paralyzed. Their eyes would also become darkened. When that happens, I usually could still save them by relocating them to a clean environment, if I catch it at an early stage.

 

[eatbreakfast]

IME with with boxfish/cowfish poisoning it was like they were suffocating and happened very quickly, with fish going to the surface to breathe.

Running carbon helped.