
- Appearance. The longhorn cowfish is a box-shaped fish with two long horns that make the fish resemble a cow or bull.
- Range and Habitat. They are most commonly found in the Red Sea, East Africa, southern and northern Japan, and Indonesia.
- Diet. Cowfish are omnivorous. In the wild, they feed upon various microorganisms, benthic algae, polychaete worms, small crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish.
- Temperament and Social Behaviors. Adult cowfish are mostly solitary and territorial. In captivity, the fish behaves in a friendly manner, and may even eat out of your hand.
- Self Defense. In the wild, when threatened, cowfish defend themselves by releasing a toxin called Pahutoxin. Their horns also serve as a defense mechanism.
- Reproduct. Longhorn cowfish reach sexual maturity when they are around 18 months old. ...
- Maintenance Difficulty. Due to their potential toxicity and fragile nature, cowfish may not be easy to care for. ...
How often should I feed a clownfish?
The following methods will work for all types of clownfish. Feed your clownfish 2 or 3 times per day spread out equally over the 24 hour period. If your clownfish are juveniles, you should feed them 3 or 4 times per day. Provide them with enough food that they will eat in about 1 minute.
What is the best food for clownfish?
What Do Clownfish Eat in an Aquarium?
- Live Meaty Fish Food. Clownfish need some live fish food in their diet to thrive. ...
- Frozen Fish Food. As for frozen food, your Clownfish will gladly chomp on small frozen fish, cut-up Bloodworms, as well as table shrimp (as long as it’s nicely chopped up.)
- Vegetables. Since Clownfish are omnivores, you also need to add vegetables to their diet. ...
What is the Diet of a clownfish?
- Fish flakes and pellets
- Copepods
- Krill (frozen and chopped)
- Feeder fish (frozen and chopped)
- Crab and shrimp larvae
- Bloodworms
- Bristle worms
- Mysis shrimp
- Spinach (treat)
- Ghost shrimp (frozen and chopped)
What type of food does a clownfish eat?
What do clownfish eat in the wild?
- Live meaty fish food. Clownfish are carnivores that primarily eat live meaty fish food. ...
- Frozen fish food. If your clownfish won’t eat what you’re offering it, start with frozen fish food. ...
- Vegetables. Clownfish will sometimes nibble on plants such as algae (which can serve as a great compliment to their diet).

What does a cowfish eat?
Diet. Longhorn cowfish are omnivores—they feed on benthic algae, various microorganisms, foraminiferans, sponges, polychaete worms, mollusks, small crustaceans and even small fish.
How do you take care of a cowfish?
13:3616:51HOW TO CARE FOR A COWFISH (Featuring Our God: Cheese)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo please make sure that you place them in a tank that does not have super high turbulenceMoreSo please make sure that you place them in a tank that does not have super high turbulence everywhere make sure they have plenty of space to swim where there's not a lot of high intense flow.
How do you feed cows fish?
Things to remember when feeding your boxfish or cowfish:Depending on the species and size, feed small amounts two to three times daily, no more than fish will eat in 1 to 2 minutes.Thaw frozen food before feeding.Ensure proper consumption, and remember that juvenile fish often lose out to faster fish.More items...
What can cowfish live with?
Placing the longhorn cowfish with the correct tank mates is highly important in order to prevent them from feeling threatened and releasing their toxin. Species such as dwarf/large angels, batfish, blennies, basslets, clown fish, dartfish, hogfish, and tangs are all good choices.
How fast do cowfish grow?
they started off as a tiny <1 inch baby and grew to about 5 to 7 inches (from vague memory of about 10 years ago) over 1-2 years, the box fish only grew to about 2 inches, but most of the growth was in the beginning, and was slowing down by the end.
How big of a tank do you need for cowfish?
They should be kept in a tank of at least 100 gallons with a sandy substrate and plenty of live rock and natural algae. The Long Horned Cowfish is a fickle animal and should be kept by experienced aquarists.
Do cowfish eat snails?
Longhorn Cowfish are omnivorous and can be observed in the wild searching for benthic invertebrates in the sand, eat various marine algae, and snacking upon snails, tubeworms, and small fish.
Are cowfish friendly?
The Cowfish Longhorn is extremely friendly and will eat out of its owner's hand.
Do cowfish eat corals?
Cowfish have trouble navigating high flow. They may nip some corals.
Are cowfish friendly?
The Cowfish Longhorn is extremely friendly and will eat out of its owner's hand.
How long does a cowfish live?
Generally pet cowfish can live anywhere from 2-8 years and can grow up to 16-20 inches in size.
How much does a cowfish cost?
Item #DescriptionPrice001018Longhorn Cowfish , Tiny: up to .75", Indo Pacific * Restriction On Guarantee$59.99001019Longhorn Cowfish , Small: over .75-1", Indo Pacific * Restriction On Guarantee$69.99001020Longhorn Cowfish , Medium: over 1-2", Indo Pacific * Restriction On Guarantee$89.992 more rows
How much money is a cowfish?
9 items foundCamel Cowfish Tetrosomus gibbosus From $39.99Horn Nosed Cowfish Ostracion rhinorhynchos From $39.99Scrawled Cowfish Acanthostracion quadricornis From $49.99Scribbled Boxfish Ostracion solorensis From $69.99Thornback Cowfish Lactoria fornasini From $99.99Whitespotted Boxfish Ostracion meleagris From $79.993 more rows
How long does it take for a fish to eat?
Depending on species and size, feed small amounts 2 to 3 times daily, no more than fish will eat in 1 to 2 minutes. Thaw frozen food before feeding and vary diet to maintain health. Ensure proper consumption; these fish often lose out to faster fish.
What to keep in an aquarium?
Keep in an appropriately sized aquarium; provide plenty of substrate, rocks and hiding places. Stable water quality and parameters are critical to the health of aquatic life. If you are unsure of your water quality, Petco provides free water testing.
What are the symptoms of quarantine fish?
Quarantine fish; use a commercial antifungal remedy as directed. Health Issue. Bacterial infections . Symptoms or Causes. Cloudy eyes, open sores, and/or reddening of the skin. Suggested Action. Improve water quality; use a commercial antibacterial remedy as directed. Health Issue. Marine ich.
Can cowfish be kept with aggressive fish?
Compatibility. Compatible with non-aggressive fish; incompatible with "cleaner" fish, which may damage their skin. Because boxfish and cowfish may release deadly toxins when stressed, do not keep with aggressive fish. Not recommended for reef tanks.
What To Feed Clownfish In An Aquarium?
In their natural habitat, these omnivores will eat just about everything including small crustaceans, copepods, algae, fish eggs, and larvae.
How to feed clownfish?
Feed small bite-sized pieces of earthworms to your clownfish. The earthworms should be washed before feeding them. If they don’t eat the worm, remove it from the tank quickly.
What do clownfish eat?
Clownfish eat amphipods and copepods, but they also enjoy brine shrimp. These can be obtained from pet stores or you could hatch a culture of your own.
How to get rid of mosquito larvae in water?
The first thing you need to do is find a stagnant body of water. Then, net the mosquito larva swimming around inside and thoroughly rinse them off in tap water.
Why is it important to remove leftover food from an aquarium?
It is also important to remove leftover food immediately so as not to disturb the water conditions of your aquarium.
Can clownfish eat saltwater?
While clownfish can eat the majority of saltwater fish food, they also have a taste for flakes.
Do clownfish live in anemones?
Because wild clownfish live near anemones inside a reef environment, they can thrive in a small tank of fresh, frozen, or dried food. Plus, provided that there are no predators in their tank, they typically have an average lifespan.
What are some good live foods for clownfish?
Brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and krill are some of the best live foods you can add to your clownfish’s diet.
What is the best food for clownfish?
Rod’s Fish Food (original blend) and LRS Reef Frenzy are commonly recognized as the best fish food available for clownfish. If you can find it, you should probably feed one or the other of these.
How Often to Feed Clownfish?
There is quite a difference in opinions on this, but in my experience, you do want to avoid feeding fish too often. Also, any food left uneaten can cause problems to balance of the water and change the PH level.
What do clownfish need?
Of all the many important needs your fish has, the top two are clean good quality water to swim in, and nutritious healthy food that is as close as possible to what Clownfish eat in their natural habitat. Of course, the aquarium is only a simulated habitat, so feeding can never be totally natural.
Do you mix up fish food in aquariums?
In your aquarium, you want to mix up their food a bit as you’re able to mimick the variety they would eat in the wild.
Can you give fish dried food?
You can also give your fish dried food too. Make sure to understand what your fish like best and try different types of food until you understand what they prefer.
Can clowns eat freeze dried fish?
Freeze-dried food for fish is recommended as it generally doesn’t lose its vitamins and nutritional value and the fish will benefit from it. You can also add extra fish vitamins to the food before giving it and it will soak into the food. A good example of freeze-dried food that you should feed your Clowns is Krill.
What To Know About Clown Fish Diet?
In its natural habitat, the clownfish eat small aquatic life, algae, and sometimes the Anemone’s residual food. When provided, the fish can also survive on fish eggs, larvae, copepods and some plants.
What to do if your fish is swollen?
So, if you notice swelling in your fish or see it swimming unbalanced, reduce the food quantity.
What happens if you feed a clownfish too much?
If you feed your clownfish too much or with poor quality food, it will experience stomach problems. The fish will experience constipation or bloating that will make its stomach large and sometimes cause swelling. The infected portion will then interfere with the swim bladder of your fish and hence the swimming issue.
Why do clownfish have a weak immune system?
Clownfish have a strong immune system and can fight most parasites or infections by themselves. However, if your fish get sick frequently , there’s a possibility of a weak immune system. This issue can occur either due to stress or due to poor diet. In either case, you will need to provide better food to the fish. It will help the fish heal faster.
Why is my clownfish's color changing?
With clownfish, you will notice slight color variation over time. While the enhancement in vibrancy is a good sign, dulling of color or whiteness is not. The discoloration indicated that your fish’s health is degrading. It usually happened due to infection, but there is a possibility that a poor diet is to blame for it.
What happens if you don't feed clownfish?
When the food you feed is unable to fulfill your clownfish’s dietary needs, it starts to starve. The fish will experience extreme discomfort and weakness. Hence, you will notice that the fish stays in one place and doesn’t move much. If you don’t change the diet and cure the problem, it may even die within a few days.
Why do fish have red dots?
These dots generally occur due to extra stress, starvation or traumas during transportation. Though the disease is not a direct symptom, it indicates your fish’s low immunity that directly relates to its health and diet. In short, if you see these dots, that means the fish needs a better and more nutritious diet.
What can a clownfish eat?
Clownfish aren’t picky eaters; they can eat almost all kinds of fish food.
What is the easiest fish to take care of?
Clownfish, however, are one of the easiest saltwater fishes to take care of. Their resilience and comparatively low maintenance requirements make them ideal for people who are new to saltwater aquariums. If you have just got a clownfish or are thinking of getting one and want to know how often you’ll have to feed it;
How to keep clownfish healthy?
Here’s a simple schedule that you can follow to keep your clownfish healthy and happy. Diet per day: 4-6 pellets or 3-4 flakes of fish food. For live food and veggies: Break the cube or veggies down to small pieces having the size of pellets or flakes. Feed these the same amount as you would with pellets.
What happens if a clownfish is compatible with an anemone?
If a clownfish is compatible with the anemone species, it will mark its territory and create a home for itself in the nodes of the anemone.
How much water should a clownfish tank hold?
This is why your tank should be big and should be able to hold at least 150 liters of water.
How long can clownfish go without food?
If you feed your clownfish regularly, you can easily go without feeding them for a week and they won’t die on you (this must only be put to test in extreme situations where there is no other way to feed the fish).
How many parts do clownfish feed?
Some clownfish owners like to spread the feeding out into 5 or 6 parts and give little food to the fish in intervals. While that is fine, spreading it out into 2 or 3 parts works just as well. However, this is not that big of a deal.
What is the best food for fish?
With any fish, a mix of foods is good to have. Some fish like ones better than others. I alternate PE Mysis, calanus, new life spectrum pellets and chlorella flakes.
What is the diet of clownfish?
Another common diet for clownfish that is used by many of the commercial clownfish breeders is the Chroma BOOST pellets from @Reef Nutrition. I also use frozen food from LRS as well as the occasional live food snack for all of the clowns in my tanks. Sep 14, 2020. #10.
What pellets should I feed my clown?
For pellets, I feed PE Mysis pellets and TDO Chroma Boost pellets, which are a staple among clown breeders.
What do clownfish eat?
Another common diet for clownfish that is used by many of the commercial clownfish breeders is the Chroma BOOST pellets from @Reef Nutrition. I also use frozen food from LRS as well as the occasional live food snack for all of the clowns in my tanks.
Can clowns eat meaty food?
Welcome!! Any meaty food should do them just fine. I prefer the LRS food because I can break off the perfect size for my tank. Frozen foods are the best IMO but pellets work just fine as well, I understand it’s hard for some people to source frozen foods. Just nothing for something like a tang (like nori, algae pellets, etc) they’re okay once in a while but your clowns may not like/eat it. Mine have no reaction to algae pellets or nori.
Do clownfish like to eat crustacean pellets?
Almost forgot! They like stealing crustacean pellets as they’re sinking. I’m not sure if fish can choke, but the pellets are rather big so I would be careful about that. I always keep an eye on the clownfish and make sure they’re okay when they manage to snag the pellets.
What do crayfish eat?
You can keep your crayfish healthy by feeding them what they would normally find in their natural habitat.
What do squid eat?
other than commercial foods, they eat just about anything local in their ecosystem that’s on this list. So while they won’t be out getting broccoli, they will chow down on most of the live fish, snails, and plants, and insects they encounter in their environment.
What happens if you don't feed crayfish?
As mentioned in the food section above, Crayfish are omnivores meaning that they eat meat and plants. If you don’t feed them for too long they will eventually starve to death but it takes much longer than you might expect. What happens is that first they will start eating other dead crayfish and then after a while, if they’re still without food, they will slow down and may become unable to defend themselves (if the tank has other aggressive animals like cichlids).
How often do crayfish molt?
As invertebrates, Crayfish require a large portion of calcium so they can molt every couple of months.
What animals will become food after being added to the diet?
Aquatic animals – any small aquatic animals such as shrimp and crabs will become food pretty soon after being added.
Do crawfish need algae wafers?
It’s important to note the high need for calcium and protein in your crawfishes diet, so algae wafers should be supplemented with additional protein pellets or wafers.
Where do crayfish live?
Crayfish are found all over North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa in slow-moving bodies of water such as swamps, ponds, rivers, etc. Usually, the diet of crayfish is quite varied with lots of different types of animals present in large numbers allowing for a balanced diet.

Overview
Typical Appearance and Behavior
- Can release a toxin when touched or stressed
- Very personable
- Some boxfish are known to make humming sounds to communicate
- While they are relatives of pufferfish and look similar to them,boxfish and cowfish do not puff up
Habitat
- Habitat size
Keep boxfish and cowfish in an appropriately sized aquarium. A minimum of 125 gallons, depending on the adult size of the species, is recommended. - Building your habitat
Water health 1. Provide proper filtration to ensure optimal water quality to help maintain health.Slow to moderate water circulation should be provided to mimic water currents and high oxygen levels found in the boxfish and cowfish’s natural habitat. Stable water quality(pH, ammo…
Feeding
- A well-balanced omnivorous boxfish and cowfish diet consists of: 1. Flakes, pellets, freeze-dried or frozen food 2. A varied diet to ensure proper nutritional balance Things to remember when feeding your boxfish or cowfish: 1. Depending on the species and size, feed small amounts two to three times daily, no more than fish will eat in 1 to 2 minute...
Boxfish and Cowfish Care
- Water care: Maintaining great water quality with regular water changes and adequate filtration is important to help keep your boxfish and cowfish healthy 1. Daily: Check filter, water temperature and other equipment 2. Weekly: Test water quality at least once a week 3. Weekly to monthly:Change 10 to 25% of the total volume of water every two to four weeks or as needed; ch…
Supplies
Aquarium Mates
- May be compatible with some docile species such as: 1. Clownfish 2. Fire/dartfish 3. Gobies 4. Dragonets 5. Cardinalfish 6. Reef-safe wrasses Because boxfish and cowfish may release deadly toxins when stressed, do not keep with aggressive fish Not recommended for reef tanks
Health
- Signs of a healthy boxfish and cowfish
1. Clear eyes 2. Healthy appetite 3. Fins completely intact and undamaged 4. Bright, even coloring 5. Free of disease and parasites - Red flags
1. Loss of color or appetite 2. Spots or fungus on body or mouth 3. Erratic swimming 4. Labored respiration 5. Cloudy eyes 6. Frayed fins 7. Weight loss 8. Listlessness
FAQs
- What do boxfish eat? Boxfish are omnivores and can eat a variety of flakes, pellets, and freeze-dried and frozen food. Be sure the food you offer sinks to help prevent boxfish from swallowing air,...
- How big do boxfish get? The size of adult boxfish will vary by species, with an average size between 5 and 20 inches.
- What do boxfish eat? Boxfish are omnivores and can eat a variety of flakes, pellets, and freeze-dried and frozen food. Be sure the food you offer sinks to help prevent boxfish from swallowing air,...
- How big do boxfish get? The size of adult boxfish will vary by species, with an average size between 5 and 20 inches.
- How large is a boxfish?The size of adult boxfish will vary by species, with an average size between 5 and 20 inches.
- How long do boxfish live? Boxfish can live up to 8+ years with proper care