Lactophrys trigonus

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Facts
Latin name Lactophrys trigonus
Local name Buffalo trunkfish
Family Ostraciidae - Lactophrys
Origin West Indian Ocean, The Mexican Golf, West Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea
Max length 55 cm (21.7")
As aquarium fish
Minimum volume 2000 l (528 gal)
Hardiness Unknown
Suitable for aquarium Experience, preparation and extra care required
Reef safe Not reef safe
Aggressiveness Unknown
Feed
Mostly Larger crustaceans (Shrimp, crabs...)
Macroalgea (Eg. seaweed / nori)
Microalgea (Eg. spirulina)
Other invertebrates
Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...)
Beware of
Can be a threat to many invertebrates

This species eats shrimps, crayfish, crabs, small bivalves, sea urchins, snails and similar.

Insufficient information

There is little available knowledge of this species, so there can be important information missing on this page.

Poisonous skin

This species has a toxin in its skin, which it releases when highly stressed or dying.

This poison can kill all the aquatic life in the aquarium, if unlucky.

Demand a very large aquarium when fully grown

This species needs a very large aquarium when fully grown.

Exactly how big the aquarium should be is hard to say, but the size of this species is such, that it cannot normally be kept in a home aquarium.

Descriptions and further reading
Family description (Ostraciidae)

Boxfish(Ostraciidae) have a unique square shape and a particular way of swimming.
They have a rather special personality, which one quickly comes to love.

Boxfish live typically off a mixture of algae, coral polyps, zooplankton, and in some cases crustaceans.
They are not normally reef safe and when small will require gentle water circulation.

Boxfish can secrete a poison when stressed or if they die, which can in the worst case, kill the contents of a whole aquarium.
Never use the water the fish was transported in.

References and further reading

About references

Bob Fenner. The Puffers Called Box-, Cowfishes, family Ostraciidae - Wet Web Media - (English)
Richard Aspinall. 2012. Oddballs for the Marine Aquarium - Tropical Fish Hobbyist - (English)