My 120g Fish tank

[Featherweight]

Beautiful

 

[mulsky]

Welcome to the new guys in my tank

 

[mulsky]

April, 27. Lol!

 

[joe_franco]

The boxfish has been moved to a larger tank. It was a beautiful fish and we loved it very much, but its appetite is just disaster. Hope it will be happy there.

oh man, that is such a bummer! I love these fellas, been thinking about getting one myself. could you tell a bit about your experience with the species? how long you had it, challenges, diet preferences... thanks!!

 

[mulsky]

oh man, that is such a bummer! I love these fellas, been thinking about getting one myself. could you tell a bit about your experience with the species? how long you had it, challenges, diet preferences... thanks!!

We got the boxfish accidentally.
In February 2025, my wife and I went to the LFS to buy the absolutely other fish, but unfortunately, it wasn't available. The trip was not a short, my wife really liked the boxfish, and she asked we buy it so the trip wouldn't be in vain.
From the beginning, it was clear that this was a mistake, but I don't regret anything. We took a little one, about 7 cm in size (not totally tiny and already not yellow) and also a coin size sailfin tang. The three-hour trip in a bag didn't tire him out at all, and after being transferred to the tank, he didn't even try to swim away but immediately started asking for food. His tankmates completely ignored him.
This is an absolutely adorable and extremely sociable creature. Always first in line for food. If you hesitate with feeding, he starts spitting water.

My feeding schedule is geared toward the angelfish. Since they don't eat much at one time, I try to feed them often and with variety, usually 4 times a day: 1) dry pellets, 2) nori and lettuce leaves, 3) clam or squid, 4) a frozen mix of brine shrimp, nori, and vitamins. This feeding regimen seems to suit the boxfish as well. Plant-based food like nori is essential. Sometimes treated him to a piece of banana.

For the first six months, there were no problems with him, except that he ate all the asterina starfish and a couple of leather corals, but his growth rate exceeded all expectations: in one year, he grew from 7 to 17 cm.

One morning, I was making coffee standing by the fridge. The boxfish probably thought I couldn't find a mussel for him and decided to swim over to the fridge to help me. But how could he know there's no water behind the glass? There was a clatter of the falling net and fish. When I picked the boxfish up off the floor, I was surprised: he had become so huge that he didn't fit in my hand! I know these fish can release a toxin when frightened and poison the entire tank, and I was very worried that this would happen when I put him back, but nothing had happened, he started begging for food. In that story, it was me who almost released a toxin, not him. Their psyche is totaly hardy, I have no idea what it would take to scare them.

Now, about the reasons we decided to break up with him. The potential to poison the tank is the least concern.
The damage to corals is also not the main issue. This fish grows very quickly and easily reaches 20-30cm in tank if not starved. He eats very quickly and a lot. Eating speed is about one clam per second, whereas the angelfish, after a couple of bites, need to swim away, think, make a circle around the reef, and return to the feeder, which is already empty. He also sucks up dry pellets like a vacuum cleaner. As a result, you either have to overfeed the boxfish or leave the other fish hungry. In the company of agressive eaters (like tangs or butterflyfish), such problems wouldn't have happened.

Overall, i think the boxfish is quite suitable for an aquarium, provided there is proper care and attention. Nothing special. Heavy skimming, probably mechanical filtration, and a secured protective net is needed. Reasons they can die in tank: starvation, ich, constipation from a lack of plant-based food. How can you tell if he is starving or overfed? I usually looked at his face. If he looks like a cube – everything is fine, if like a barrel, - he's likely overfed, if like a pillow – he's straving. You need to feed often by little, 4 times a day is ok.

Compatibility with corals. This guy is absolutely not reef safe. Mine ate any soft corals and some LPS. Didn't touch SPS, mushrooms, or euphyllia. Starfish and clams will be eaten. Often, he doesn't even eat the coral but sharpen his teeth on it. He bites off pieces and spits them out. You can place a dry reef rock in the tank, and then he starts gnawing on it, leaving the corals alone for a while.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

We got the boxfish accidentally.
In February 2025, my wife and I went to the LFS to buy the absolutely other fish, but unfortunately, it wasn't available. The trip was not a short, my wife really liked the boxfish, and she asked we buy it so the trip wouldn't be in vain.
From the beginning, it was clear that this was a mistake, but I don't regret anything. We took a little one, about 7 cm in size (not totally tiny and already not yellow) and also a coin size sailfin tang. The three-hour trip in a bag didn't tire him out at all, and after being transferred to the tank, he didn't even try to swim away but immediately started asking for food. His tankmates completely ignored him.
This is an absolutely adorable and extremely sociable creature. Always first in line for food. If you hesitate with feeding, he starts spitting water.

My feeding schedule is geared toward the angelfish. Since they don't eat much at one time, I try to feed them often and with variety, usually 4 times a day: 1) dry pellets, 2) nori and lettuce leaves, 3) clam or squid, 4) a frozen mix of brine shrimp, nori, and vitamins. This feeding regimen seems to suit the boxfish as well. Plant-based food like nori is essential. Sometimes treated him to a piece of banana.

For the first six months, there were no problems with him, except that he ate all the asterina starfish and a couple of leather corals, but his growth rate exceeded all expectations: in one year, he grew from 7 to 17 cm.

One morning, I was making coffee standing by the fridge. The boxfish probably thought I couldn't find a mussel for him and decided to swim over to the fridge to help me. But how could he know there's no water behind the glass? There was a clatter of the falling net and fish. When I picked the boxfish up off the floor, I was surprised: he had become so huge that he didn't fit in my hand! I know these fish can release a toxin when frightened and poison the entire tank, and I was very worried that this would happen when I put him back, but nothing had happened, he started begging for food. In that story, it was me who almost released a toxin, not him. Their psyche is totaly hardy, I have no idea what it would take to scare them.

Now, about the reasons we decided to break up with him. The potential to poison the tank is the least concern.
The damage to corals is also not the main issue. This fish grows very quickly and easily reaches 20-30cm in tank if not starved. He eats very quickly and a lot. Eating speed is about one clam per second, whereas the angelfish, after a couple of bites, need to swim away, think, make a circle around the reef, and return to the feeder, which is already empty. He also sucks up dry pellets like a vacuum cleaner. As a result, you either have to overfeed the boxfish or leave the other fish hungry. In the company of agressive eaters (like tangs or butterflyfish), such problems wouldn't have happened.

Overall, i think the boxfish is quite suitable for an aquarium, provided there is proper care and attention. Nothing special. Heavy skimming, probably mechanical filtration, and a secured protective net is needed. Reasons they can die in tank: starvation, ich, constipation from a lack of plant-based food. How can you tell if he is starving or overfed? I usually looked at his face. If he looks like a cube – everything is fine, if like a barrel, - he's likely overfed, if like a pillow – he's straving. You need to feed often by little, 4 times a day is ok.

Compatibility with corals. This guy is absolutely not reef safe. Mine ate any soft corals and some LPS. Didn't touch SPS, mushrooms, or euphyllia. Starfish and clams will be eaten. Often, he doesn't even eat the coral but sharpen his teeth on it. He bites off pieces and spits them out. You can place a dry reef rock in the tank, and then he starts gnawing on it, leaving the corals alone for a while.

Always love seeing boxfish!

 

[JumboShrimp]

Such a beautiful tank, and excellent photography!

 

[mulsky]

Such a beautiful tank, and excellent photography!

Thanks!

 

[mulsky]

 

[mulsky]

 

[mulsky]

 

[mulsky]

 

[JumboShrimp]

I can wait-you-out, fish...

 

[MKS]

Enjoying the view!

 

[mulsky]

After returning from vacation trip, found some corals were gone. Fortunately, all the fish are fine. Just ordered little CB goldflake. I hope he will be a good friend to my flagfin. .)

 

[sacora]

The boxfish has been moved to a larger tank. It was a beautiful fish and we loved it very much, but its appetite is just disaster. Hope it will be happy there.

oh man, that is such a bummer! I love these fellas, been thinking about getting one myself. could you tell a bit about your experience with the species? how long you had it, challenges, diet preferences... thanks!!

Beautiful pics, do you use an orange lens?

 

[mulsky]

Thanks
Of course!

 

[mulsky]

 

[mulsky]

 

[JumboShrimp]

Such a beauty!