Pets Australia Issue 70 August 2017

Creature feature | PETS

http://www.facebook.com/petsmagazine August 91

Their shape and heavy weight-to-size ratio,

combined with the fact they only use their

dorsal and anal fins for regular movement,

make for an especially slow swimmer —

though they are fabulous manoeuvrers, being

able to switch direction rapidly. The cowfish

variety also has two bony horns, one on its

head and the second above the caudal fin.

There are about 33 species of Boxfish

worldwide, with 20 occurring in Australia, and

they come in a variety of colorations ranging

from yellow, to blue, to brown to black. The

Boxfish goes by many names, including the

Spotted Boxfish, Blue Boxfish, Black Boxfish,

or Whitespotted Boxfish. The male is the more

colourful of the two genders and juveniles are

brighter than adults. You’ll mostly find them

in coral reefs and rocky areas, though Boxfish

are global creatures, found in most parts of the

world. They’re commonly referred to as Cow

or Trunkfish and are closely related to Filefish

and Pufferfish.

CARING FOR BOXFISH

Boxfish are peaceful creatures, but they can

be aggressive to other fish if not given enough

space, especially towards their own breed. In

terms of tank mates, Boxfish should not be

kept in pairs. But if you really want to give it a

try, it’s best to have two females, or one male

and one female, to avoid aggression. They

should not be kept with aggressive fish, but

are generally compatible with non-aggressive

breeds, for example dwarf or large Angelfish,

Clownfish or Anglers.

When setting up your aquarium, you’ll

need to provide a tank with capacity for at least

280L for a Yellow Boxfish or as small as 110L for

smaller, single-inhabitant Boxfish. They require

plenty of rockwork and adequate swimming

spaces and being big eaters, they also produce

a lot of waste, meaning an efficient filtration

system is important to

keep the tank environment healthy.

Omnivorous bottom feeders, Boxfish will

eat pretty much anything they consider big

enough of a meal. They prefer a diet with

plenty of live fish, and experts recommend

blended seafood items including crustaceans,

sponges, tunicates, worms and occasionally

polyps. Their diet should also include greens

— think frozen peas, boiled lettuce, algae

and dried seaweed.

DISEASES AND

HEALTH PROBLEMS

The key reason Boxfish are recommended for

expert hobbyists only is their health. While

they do well in the wild, those contained in

an aquarium are easily susceptible to skin

diseases, which are generally hard, if not

impossible, to treat. There is some controversy

on how to cure skin disease in a Boxfish;

some saying copper will treat it, others

recommending a freshwater bath.

Their poor mobility can also affect their

health — if they have tank mates, you’ll need

to closely supervise their feeding times, as they

can be left behind in the scrum and wind up

taking in very little food. While they are slow

movers, they are also one of the few fish that

can protect themselves chemically — some

Boxfish have the ability to release a toxin

called ostracitoxin, which is released to ward

of predators. Unfortunately, if this happens

in an aquarium setting, it can kill all the

fish in your tank, though it’s not a common

occurrence. As such, experts generally agree

they should not be kept in an aquarium, unless

you’re a highly experienced fish hobbyist.

In terms of breeding, Boxfish don’t tend to

mate in an aquarium setting.

Grooming:

Size: Small

Lifespan: 4 years

At a Glance

PLF070_pg090-091_Boxfish.indd 91PLF070_pg090-091_Boxfish.indd 91 6/28/2017 10:23:08 AM6/28/2017 10:23:08 AM