cowfish(long horned)

[Anonymous]

I was thinking of keeping one...I see them sold time from time at the LFS but they are small..Ive read they get rather large and need a large aquarium..so my question is, how fast do they grow...I was thinking of upgrading (if you want to call it that) to a 2.5 gal tank at my job and want to keep something like that...Would it be a bad idea to keep a little 1.5-2 cowfish in that? I understand in time it will outgrow that tank and need to be moved (back to the LFS)...But if they grow rather rapidly i wont do it...

 

[K9coral]

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the replies :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

I think it would be a bad idea.
Long horned cow fish (Lactoria cornuta) get very large, and I assume they would grow quickly (although I have never had one)

I've read that they can exude toxins when stressed that could wipe out tanks, so I wouldn't put one in such a tiny tank.

 

[Anonymous]

That would pretty much be all i kept in that tank..yes they are toxic but are eaten by south pacific islanders...my only concern is the rate of growth one would have..i was hoping someone would have some info on Lactoria cornuta and their growth rate (via experience)

 

[Anonymous]

and yes PitPat, they get fairly large (over 12" in home aquaria)

 

[Anonymous]

If thats all you are going to keep why go with such a small tank?
The toxen they exude can kill themselves, not just other inhabitants. I think the danger would be greatly magnified in such a small tank.

 

[Anonymous]

If thats all you are going to keep why go with such a small tank?

Work..i cant really have a 100+gal tank at work..I cant also justify having a large tank at home for one fish and basing everything around a fish that isnt that exotic... i would also hope that it wouldnt get that stressed out..if you think its that bad of idea and you do have valid arguments, then perhaps I will fore go it

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I don't know how much of a risk it would be, though it is something Scott Michael mentions when talking about cowfish. I think a small frogfish or scorpionfish would be a better choice, but still, a 2.5 is small enough that I hesitate to recommend any fish. But I'm not a nano person.
You'll probably get more responses to this thread in the morning.

 

[Anonymous]

well i think 2.5 gal is able to keep small critters such as neon gobies..i was hoping a slow growing 2" cowfish would be good

 

[Anonymous]

or maybe a small species of hawkfish :?

 

[Anonymous]

These are constantly hungry omnivores that produce quite a bit of waste. Since they need constant feedings (at least 3 times a day) with mostly meaty foods they'll outgrow your 2.5 gal tank in as little as 4 to 8 months. They are also quite skittish as they get larger and toxic when stressed. In the confines of a 2.5 gal tank it won't take much to stress them.

mario

 

[Anonymous]

I think the idea of renting fish from the pet store is dumb.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok this is all the info i needed to make my decision

Thanks guys

 

[Anonymous]

I think Rover needs to feed himself a better food

 

[Anonymous]