Marrone Longhorn Cowfish?

[Awibrandy]

I saw an awesome longhorn cowfish relatively cheaply priced at an lfs, and was realllllllllly tempted.

But decided against going with the temptation because I have a dogface puffer, and was concerned that the puffer would go after it's horns causing it to poison my entire tank.

I am rightly justified with this concern?

 

[DevIouS]

Although this thread is directed to 1 person, here's another members experience:

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/fish/29050-cowfish-attacking-dogface-puffer.html#post322933

 

[thepudge]

Haha, allow me to elaborate on my previous experience. That dogface I had was sick, bought from petco, and died from what I believed to be a bacterial infection a few days later.

I had the cowfish with a (much) larger dogface later. There was no agression at all, but the puffer ate so much and so quickly that it was tough to make sure the cowfish got food. I believe I could have made it work, but unfortunately the cowfish caught ich, and I had no time to devote to the tank, as I had to prepare for my wedding and go on my honeymoon and he didn't make it. Thus ended my love affair with not QT-ing new acquisitions.

The cowfish was absolutely my favorite though and I plan on getting another one shortly (maybe this week). I think you could make it work with a cowfish and a dogface, so long as the dogface is small enough (or the tank large enough) that the cowfish will be able to get food. Its always a risk though, you don't want your tank nuked, and although my cowfish didn't poison anything, I can't vouch for other cowfishes

 

[Awibrandy]

Thanks Phil. I know longhorn's can be mean, and they should be the last to be introduced into a system. That part I am not concerned with since it will be the last to be introduced. My concern is the puffer harrasing it, and causing it to poison the rest of the inhabitants.
The is not addressed in the thread you directed me too. In the pudge's scenerio, the cowfish was in the system & the puffer was added which resulted in the puffer being attacked. Had the pudge done a tiny research on the cowfish he would have known that this would happen. I am concerned with the opposite happening.
By the way, I found it weird & interesting that the cowfish would take bites out of a poisoness fish. The dogface puffer's flesh is poisones.hmmmm

 

[DevIouS]

Read above....:lol:

 

[Awibrandy]

I hear ya pudge! I don't thinking (????) feeding would be a big problem since I feed alot of food in a single feeding, so as to make sure everyone gets enough.lol Yeah, causes me to do more frequent water changes.arg But at least I know everyone has enough to eat.
I'm really concerned with the fact that the dogface is very well established, and although I find the cowfish to be very interesting, and unusual looking fish I don't want to loose any of my other specimens to it.

 

[thepudge]

Lol, if you're going to pass on the cowfish can you tell me where it is? I want it Also, reading your post above it sounds like you think longhorns are mean -- I think the opposite is true -- they are actually very docile, except with other longhorns (and apparrently seahorses, which they will pick on ).

 

[Awibrandy]

I don't have experience with longhorns.:flower: Only what I have read on the net, and everything says they can be nasty, and should be the last fish added to the tank. My concern is that since my puffer has been in the tank so long I worry that he may go after the cowfish's horns if for nothing more then curiosity, and cause the longhorn to "nuke" my tank.:eek1:
I haven't decided to pass on it yet, if I do I will be sure to let you know where it is.:biggrin:

 

[thepudge]

Really -- aggressive cowfish? That is news to me -- what sources are you looking at?

I don't have experience with longhorns.:flower: Only what I have read on the net, and everything says they can be nasty, and should be the last fish added to the tank. My concern is that since my puffer has been in the tank so long I worry that he may go after the cowfish's horns if for nothing more then curiosity, and cause the longhorn to "nuke" my tank.:eek1:
I haven't decided to pass on it yet, if I do I will be sure to let you know where it is.:biggrin:

 

[crox99]

Under Water Creations has a couple of them in stock.

 

[Awibrandy]

pudge, I didn't say "they are aggresive". I said they CAN be nasty.
Click here: Cowfish, Longhorn Cowfish, Long-horned Cowfish, Lactoria cornuta

Social Behaviors:
Apparently this fish is sometimes aggressive and sometimes not. Keep an eye on newcomers with an established boxfish and any new boxfish that are added to the aquarium.

In any case my question is not, "are cowfish aggresive".....

My question is; Will my existing dogface puffer bother the cowfish enough to cause it to feel threatened to the point that it will release poison into my tank..................................?

 

[Dj Orion]

ok, I have a cowfish, yellow spotted boxfish, and a dogface puffer. The dogface was in the tank long before the other two made it into the tank. The cowfish came next, and there was no aggression on the cowfish at all. They lived peacefully together without any problems. I introduced the yellow spotted boxfish (close relative tot he cowfish) and sure enough, the dogface went crazy and acted aggressively towards the boxfish, not the cowfish. The dogface is now living in my sump, awaiting someone to take him to a better home.

Cowfish are generally not agressive, however, my cowfish has bitten me several times when I goto replace his seaweed on the feeding clip. If I dont keep an eye on him, he will def bite me every time.

Awi in my experience the dogface was a safe combo with the cowfish, however, being that my dogface went after the cows closest relative, I think you made the right choice.

Aquarium Adventure has a baby cowfish right now as well.

p.s. next to my porcupine puffer, the cowfish is my favorite of the tank.

 

[thepudge]

Yup, so the answer is probably not, but there is always a chance. Try www.cowfishes.com, they have pretty good info on cowfish

 

[Awibrandy]

Thank you very much Ryan!! I think I will go for it. The one I saw is a nice size about 2.75" if not three. Hope it is still there when I am able to walk in a couple of days.lol

 

[scumonkey]

Go for it A......I had a long horn with a VERY LARGE masked puffer in a 110g- NEVER had a problem!
They never even looked at each other.
Post pics ASAP!!! (lucky you)!

 

[Awibrandy]

Go for it A......I had a long horn with a VERY LARGE masked puffer in a 110g- NEVER had a problem!
They never even looked at each other.
Post pics ASAP!!! (lucky you)!

Thanks Eric! I am going to attempt it. Hopefully it is still available when I am able to get back to the store.:usa1:

 

[Awibrandy]

Here she is!

 

[crox99]

Good luck with it A!!!!:goldfish2:goldfish2How is the puffer behaving?

 

[Awibrandy]

They started out to be good old buddies! Lately they are doing their own thing.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Cool! Best of luck !!