yellow boxfish problems

[JyMan]

OK I bought this little guy maybe 1/4 inch at the most two days ago without reserching it.My wife wanted it (look how cute).Anyway this morning it looks one of its fin got nibbled on.I did some reading and found this guy might wipe out my tank if stressed.true or false?.Please I am tring to deside keep or give it back to the lfs

[Sugar Magnolia]

Unfortunately it's true. If it is severly stressed it can release some potent toxins that have the potential to wipe out a tank. Apparently it's pretty uncommon for this to happen, but being aware that the potential is there will help. Be sure to provide it with plenty of algae and meaty foods. They prefer a low flow tank. And by all means make sure if you have an overflow to keep it covered to prevent the fish from being sucked in. Hopefully you don't have any aggresive fish in the tank that will harrass it.

[Condiman]

Yep its true and I hope that it never happens to you.

[Doctor_Reef]

Yes it is true, that is one of the reasons I have not put one in a reef tank... I just decided the risk wasn't worth it.... follow the above advice and just be careful with this fish!!

[tinyreef]

they're omnivorous peckers too. not reef safe imo.

they might not eat every coral but they will eat some corals.

invertebrates are all fair game, i.e. food. forget about clams or shrimp or anything like that. they'll think you're giving them a special treat. d'oh.

i agree, the poison release is very rare. i had one almost beaten to death by a tang and he didn't go nuclear. that's only one instance tho.

lastly, they are prodigious poopers! :shock: be prepared for a lotta poop. hth

[JyMan]

It seem to be eating finally.Its so small I think I am going to keep it unless it becomes a coral muncher or gets to big ,then it will become LFS credit.

[tinyreef]

more meat than plant foods while it's young. it does need both but i think its diet (when they're young) tends to be more meaty.

there was a cowfish forum i belonged to, i don't know if they're still around tho. i think they were on delphi forums and then moved off onto their own url. i've forgotten my password tho. :oops:

you do realize they grow up to be fugly (imho). not the cute little boxfish you've got there. they're really for 75g+ tanks imo. hth

edit: it wasn't cowfish.org, she was a member but into computer code or something. i'll try and dig it out.

[Brock Fluharty]

They are not fugly! LOL! I have a blackbox, and he does poop A LOT, and, BIG PIECES!!! He loves brine shrimp, and is very friendly to all of my shrimp and scallops. I love how they swim very slowly. He and my green mandarin dragonet are best friends!

[BoldAsBrass]

Had one box fish, and that was enough. Fabulous photo!