Cowfish tankmates

rara12

rara12

Member
Ok so im still in the planning satges of several saltwater tanks and want to get all the info on many fish that i have an interest in.(We're converting a portion of our basement into a fish tank room)
I dont want to risk any major competition for food that might make the cowfish release its toxins.(After much research i now know that cowfish release their toxins most frequently when competing for food.)
My question is can i keep a Leatherjacket Filefish with a thornback cowfish??? I have been told that they are not very agressive. Also other fish im looking into for this tank are Rhino Blennies and a Carpentors Flasher wrasse.
The Thornback cowfish will max out at about 6" and have been told by severy trusted sources that they can live comfortable in a 55g for life. Will these four fish be okay together in a 55g? Should i cut one of the fishes out?
thanks for any help
 
jon321

jon321

Member
Leatherjackts and hornbacks are not kept by many people. From what Ive seen of boxfish/cowfish, they can compete just fine againt peaceful fish, but really only have problems with fish that are aggressive. I doubt youll have a problem as long as the sizes are reasonable (no 1" box with 5" filefish).
Jon
 
torno

torno

Member
I've kept many cow/boxfishes before so I'll be able to help you. A thorn back will be fine in a 55 gallon, as they only reach around 6" in captivity. Filefish should be okay, as they are less aggressive than their related species the triggerfish. I personally have never had a box/cow release the toxin, and I think as long as you pick your tankmates right, you'll be fine.
 
fireshrimp

fireshrimp

Member
I had a box fish they are very entertaining. Watch any inverts with them and fast moving fish. Mine would eat out of my hand and then would nip at my hand thinking i had food when i was re aquascaping lol. They are a pretty cool fish.
 
rara12

rara12

Member
Thanks, And is it true that if you add alot of carbon to the filter it will reduce the effect of the toxins and if you have enough the fish can release their toxins without even effecting the tank???
 
rara12

rara12

Member
how often? And is it even worth doing, ive been told that thornbacks dont really poison the tank very often and actually them releasing toxins is a rare-ish thing, so im assuming it would be good untill the fish gets accustom to the tank but after that is it worth doing? the extra carbon i mean
 
torno

torno

Member
Honestly, I think if you choose the right tankmates, keep water quality good, and feed well, you shouldn't even need the carbon. I've only ever used it once, and that was when my boxfish died due to oxygen deprivation (long story, ask me if you want to know), and I had a shipment of fish coming in. I used it as a precautionary just in case the boxfish had released the toxin upon dying. However, I have heard cases where the fish will die and not release the toxin at all. I don't think it's a very common thing for these fish to do this unless you're placing them in a stressful environment.
and if you haven't checked it out yet, try www.cowfishes.com
It's very good.
Hope that helped!
 
v-lioness

v-lioness

Member
Leatherjacket Filefish with a thornback cowfish
The Filefish will get to large for your tank and the Cowfish may pick at the file, this will depend on the fish. The leather-jacket (as in tasseled filefish?) can not be picked at (you do not want the tassels picked at). I keep a Longhorn cowfish and Leather-jacket file, and do not keep them together, it can be risky.
Kaye
 
rara12

rara12

Member
Its not the tasseled file, its also known as a jade file fish. Paramonacanthus japonicus. Stays small.
 
S

surfinusa

Guest
ive heard beakleather jackets are almost impossible to keep alive :thinking:
 
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