longhorn cowfish

[attempt]

Are the longhorn cowfish reef safe? one LFS says they are, another says they are not.
I am not sure who to believe!
my GF would like me to get one, however i do not want to risk my corals being eating by some goofy looking fish!

 

[4angel]

I heard that if stressed they give off a toxic slime that has the capability of killing off tank mates I dont know how true this is or if this would also hold true to coral inhabitans.
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current state of us economy recession

 

[danmhippo]

I had 2 in separate tanks. I have not yet witness them picking on softies, and LPS. I do not keep SPS, so I can't comment there.

I've also had cowfish died in my tank before, nothing has been harmed.

They, however, are difficult to feed due to their small mouth. It will take them much longer to "fill-up" than most other fish. What I did is to hang a shrimp by the string in mid water for the cowfish to pick on it for hours. Remove it at the end of the day. Feed your other fish beforehand helps.

 

[attempt]

as part of my normal feeding I usually put a cube of mysis and a cube of brine in a squirt bottle and melt them with a little RO/DI water and sqirt that into my tank. with the cowfish eat that? or will i have to specific feed it?

 

[brandon4291]

I believe they would be generally reef safe. Apparently the release of ostracotoxin (so?) is a controlled defense, and not necessarily associated with keeping the fish. Upon release this toxin can kill tank inhabitants, fish and corals alike, but as Jimmy has said he's kept them before without the release. They can grow quite large....

 

[danmhippo]

They can grow quite large....

Amen, that's an understatement...................

 

[Anonymous]

Although I think there are 2 similar species and one stays under 5 inches.

 

[nymph]

My Ferdinand lived for 4yrs. Grew from 2" to 8". Since he was so big I did not want him to totally die in the tank, plus it was so tragic to watch. I euthanized him...but when he was alive and well he did munch the soft corals. He was very inquisitive, and would go after shrimp and just loved to eat the big margarita snails. He live the life of Riley in a 100g tank all to himself.