Thornback Cowfish (Lactoria fornasini)
Indo-West Pacific. 15 cm (5.9 inches)
(and associated mouth parts). The juvenile individuals
that are most readily available to aquarists are not likely
to cause any issues in a reef tank, but adults can be more
destructive. Adult boxfishes have been known to feed
on small-polyped stony corals in the wild (for example,
Honeycomb Cowfish feed on the polyps of Elkhorn Cor-
als) and may nip at and irritate SPS corals in the aquar-
ium. That said, adult boxfishes have been kept in tanks
with SPS and LPS corals without causing problems. Just
remember, keeping any sessile invertebrate–feeding fish
(or even herbivore, for that matter) with stony corals
can be risky. The risk is increased if you do not feed your
boxfish enough. A hungry fish is likely to “go rogue” and
eat corals. I have had or seen boxfishes doing well in reef
tanks that contain large soft corals like Cladiella, Sinular-
ia, and Sarcophyton. When it comes to softies and polyps,
they are more likely to pick at Anthelia, Clavularia, Xenia,
zooanthids, and gorgonians. (Note: I have also had juve-
niles of several species live in harmony with this list of
cnidarian types).
Boxfishes will obliterate fan worm populations. They
have been known to occasionally nip at a tridacnid clamBluetail Trunkfish (Ostracion cyanurus)
Red Sea, Persian Gulf. 15 cm (5.9 inches)