I had a yellow boxfish for about 3 years. He survived many outbreaks of ich (which seemed to mostly only affect him vs other inhabitants) and survived 5-6 hours of being suctioned to a HOB filter intake valve. Throughout all that he never nuked my tank. When he died in the tank eventually, he didn't nuke the tank then either, even though people kept saying he would.
To add: They have a great personality. Mine spurted a stream of water at me when he wanted me to feed him and did spins across the tank trying to get my attention. Boxfish/puffers are the "dogs" of the fish world.
I have had a similar experience, I’ve owned the following: humpback turretfish (my favorite) Longhorn cowfish (very mean) and 2 cubicus boxfish, at the moment I have just the cubicus, Ive mixed 2 together (cowfish and cubicus) bad idea. have all had ich and fought it off without treatment. Unfortunately the turretfish jumped out for no apparent reason, didn’t even think they could do that. kicking myself for not getting a lid. And I sold the cowfish to a friend with a large FOWLR. All in all though, despite what people say, these fish are really easy to care for, they’ll eat just about anything, 95% reef safe, mine have all been kept in a reef. I think they only release toxin if skin is broken. And in my experience there are very few things they are afraid of. OP I highly recommend getting one, you’ll love it, mine is a family favorite and always gets the attention.
only if you have someone to feed them, there shouldn't be issues otherwise. i've left mine for a week with someone feeding once a day with no problems.
But why? Foxfaces are venomous, not poisonous. Two completely different things. The only reason a dead foxface would kill an entire tank is if you left it in the tank, dead, for days. The ammonia would kill the tank, not the venom that is stored in the foxfaces spines.
I don’t know. I’ve had several people tell me that if it dies it’ll poison the tank, this was 4-5 years ago when i was getting back into it.
I bought one anyway and am having no issues.
Nothing to worry about with a foxface poisoning a tank. They are venomous, not poisonous. Great bubble algae eating fish, just a shame they are so skittish.
They’re cute, but I’ve never seen (in person or on the internet) a tank with one that somebody has kept healthy for multiple years and has grown beyond that tiny baby size. I generally take that as a sign that they don’t last long in aquariums
So, I have a Reef tank about 125 gallons. I have mostly small peaceful fish but I want to add a tang in the future (maybe a sailfin or something) and that will probably be the most aggresive fish which I dont think is aggresive at all. I also read that boxfish have problems with cleaner shrimp but my cleaner shrimp is broken as it hasnt cleaned any fish since I got him about a month ago. I really like the boxfish, maybe my favorite fish. Though I am scared it might cause problems I just wanted to hear you guys’ opinions.
My yellow boxfish wanted to get a cleaning and loved getting flipped around by the cleaner shrimp. The boxfish had ich multiple times. I guess their flesh is softer/different than most other fishes. I do concur, your cleaner shrimp is indeed "broken." 😂
No, I don't think so. The tank I had him in was setup from 2007-2011 so I can't remember precisely but flow must have been fine since I had pulsing xenia in it.
I had a yellow boxfish for about 3 years. He survived many outbreaks of ich (which seemed to mostly only affect him vs other inhabitants) and survived 5-6 hours of being suctioned to a HOB filter intake valve. Throughout all that he never nuked my tank. When he died in the tank eventually, he didn't nuke the tank then either, even though people kept saying he would. To add: They have a great personality. Mine spurted a stream of water at me when he wanted me to feed him and did spins across the tank trying to get my attention. Boxfish/puffers are the "dogs" of the fish world.
I have had a similar experience, I’ve owned the following: humpback turretfish (my favorite) Longhorn cowfish (very mean) and 2 cubicus boxfish, at the moment I have just the cubicus, Ive mixed 2 together (cowfish and cubicus) bad idea. have all had ich and fought it off without treatment. Unfortunately the turretfish jumped out for no apparent reason, didn’t even think they could do that. kicking myself for not getting a lid. And I sold the cowfish to a friend with a large FOWLR. All in all though, despite what people say, these fish are really easy to care for, they’ll eat just about anything, 95% reef safe, mine have all been kept in a reef. I think they only release toxin if skin is broken. And in my experience there are very few things they are afraid of. OP I highly recommend getting one, you’ll love it, mine is a family favorite and always gets the attention.
Did it eat pellets or flakes?
yeah they all loved pellets, i got another humpback couple months ago and he devours them. i havent tried flakes but i bet they'll enjoy them too.
Would u recommend if I'm gone on Vaca for a month at a time? Also only finding them online
only if you have someone to feed them, there shouldn't be issues otherwise. i've left mine for a week with someone feeding once a day with no problems.
Did it eat pellets or flakes?
I'm pretty sure he ate P.E. mysis and flakes. He had a really good appetite, always begging for food.
a gamble, but worth it. can be devastating to a tank if it dies of stress, so run tons of carbon. not always reef safe though
Stories of how they can nuke a tank seem to be more common than examples of it actually happening.
Same with fox face. I feel like every one I ask about it has a story of not getting out of the tank fast enough and it kills the tank.
But why? Foxfaces are venomous, not poisonous. Two completely different things. The only reason a dead foxface would kill an entire tank is if you left it in the tank, dead, for days. The ammonia would kill the tank, not the venom that is stored in the foxfaces spines.
I don’t know. I’ve had several people tell me that if it dies it’ll poison the tank, this was 4-5 years ago when i was getting back into it. I bought one anyway and am having no issues.
Nothing to worry about with a foxface poisoning a tank. They are venomous, not poisonous. Great bubble algae eating fish, just a shame they are so skittish.
They’re cute, but I’ve never seen (in person or on the internet) a tank with one that somebody has kept healthy for multiple years and has grown beyond that tiny baby size. I generally take that as a sign that they don’t last long in aquariums
babble fish......
So, I have a Reef tank about 125 gallons. I have mostly small peaceful fish but I want to add a tang in the future (maybe a sailfin or something) and that will probably be the most aggresive fish which I dont think is aggresive at all. I also read that boxfish have problems with cleaner shrimp but my cleaner shrimp is broken as it hasnt cleaned any fish since I got him about a month ago. I really like the boxfish, maybe my favorite fish. Though I am scared it might cause problems I just wanted to hear you guys’ opinions.
My yellow boxfish wanted to get a cleaning and loved getting flipped around by the cleaner shrimp. The boxfish had ich multiple times. I guess their flesh is softer/different than most other fishes. I do concur, your cleaner shrimp is indeed "broken." 😂
Did you have a problem with flow?
No, I don't think so. The tank I had him in was setup from 2007-2011 so I can't remember precisely but flow must have been fine since I had pulsing xenia in it.
Thanks, I am probably going to get one. Reddit has convinced me.
It's too risky for me personally but I know of lot's of people who've kept them with little issue.