any1 kept a cowfish ?

[NYreefNoob]

has anyone tried to keep or does keep cowfish ? if so how long did it last or have you had it ? if it died what happened to rest of tank ? i know they can poison a tank if they die or get scare and release a toxin, but wanting to try my hand with one

 

[Dj Orion]

I have had one for about a year and it is still in my tank right now. I love the silly thing. They are quite bold, and he has bitten my hand a few times.

 

[DontXtripNfall]

Dom has I think..

 

[NYreefNoob]

in the 24g ? and what exact species do you have ?

 

[Dj Orion]

in the 24g ? and what exact species do you have ?

lol no, i have a 75g mixed reef, but never posted it on the site.:shhh:

 

[NYreefNoob]

alot of people have stuff they shouldn't. how big is your's ? and any problem with feeding because of flow or do you turn ph off while feeding ?

 

[Dj Orion]

alot of people have stuff they shouldn't. how big is your's ? and any problem with feeding because of flow or do you turn ph off while feeding ?

Its a long horned cowfish. The cowfish is about 3.5 - 4" and he eats like a maniac. In fact, he is always waiting for me to feed him. He's never had any problems before and will readily eat right out of my hand, and accepts mysis, krill and green seaweed. I never turn off my power heads. It has more than tripled in size since I purchased him a year ago. These are some pix from a while back.

 

[DontXtripNfall]

DJ- its in a mixed reef - so both lps and sps right? so it doesn't bother any of your corals?

 

[Dj Orion]

DJ- its in a mixed reef - so both lps and sps right? so it doesn't bother any of your corals?

Ok heres the deal with this tank. It was originally a fowlr. As my corals (mostly softies) out grew my nano, I would just drop them in the 75g. It soon became a mixed reef. It did acquire a few lps that werent doing well in my 24g, but for some reason do better in my 75 (i think its the lower pc lighting). The cowfish could care less about the corals. So does my porcupine puffer. I originally saw a cowfish in another mr reefers reef tank, which initially sparked my interest. I also have a yellow spotted boxfish in this tank as well. None of these fish touch the corals. I also dont have any inverts in the tank at all.

 

[gcfd191]

I used to have a longhorned cowfish about 8 years ago. Lasted 2 years & then died. Nothing happened to my tank as far as getting poisoned

 

[JasonE]

Saw 6 inch LH cow stuck to an intake in an 800 G reef, and watched about 30 fish die within 15 minutes.
Not very common, but FYI id does happen.

 

[Domboski]

I have two small ones. I had a small one a couple of years ago and my trigger ate it. I also had one that was a foot long! They get huge. If your in Manhattan anytime soon Rick you can have one of mine. I ordered one and they sent me two. Both are eating mysis, pellets and flakes.

Dom

 

[NYreefNoob]

< beginning to think dom has no normal fish in his tank which is nice, and ty dom but i never get to the city let alone much out of westchester

 

[PhoenixOne]

I had a longhorn cowfish. Brought it when it was a baby. It was the size of a dime. Ate anything I gave it. It never bothered any of my corals.... until it got bigger. About a year after I got it, it started nipping at all my corals. I never understood why i was loosing so many corals so quickly until one time I just happen to be looking at the tank from a distance and I saw the s.o.b going to town on a few corals. When I walked up to the tank, it stopped and did what it usually does, beg for food. They are not considered reef safe, although my previous LFS told me they were when I first got into the hobby. You may get lucky like DJ and have one not bother your corals like some Niger Triggers, but you will be taking a chance. Hope this helps.

 

[thepudge]

I had one that I lost to a bout of ich. Great fish, definitely plan to get another at some point.

 

[Domboski]

< beginning to think dom has no normal fish in his tank which is nice, and ty dom but i never get to the city let alone much out of westchester

LOL. I do have a Clarkii Clown (4+ years) and a Green Chromis. :tongue1: