Lactoria cornuta

Source: Kattegat Centeret - Kasper Hareskov Tygesen

Source: Kasper Hareskov Tygesen

Source: JJPhoto.dk

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Facts

Latin name	Lactoria cornuta - (Linnaeus, 1758)
Local name	Longhorn Cowfish
Family	Ostraciidae - Lactoria
Origin	East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, Australia, Japan, The Red Sea
Max length	45 cm (17.7")

As aquarium fish

Minimum volume	1500 l (396 gal)
Hardiness	Delicate
Suitable for aquarium	Experience, preparation and extra care required
Reef safe	Reef safe with luck
Aggressiveness	Mostly peaceful but might be aggressive towards similar species

Feed

Recommended	Macroalgea (Eg. seaweed / nori) Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...)
Mostly	Large polyp stone coral (LPS) Other invertebrates Soft coral
Maybee	Larger crustaceans (Shrimp, crabs...)

Beware of

Eats tubeworms

This species likes to eat tubeworms.

Threat towards invertebrates

This species likes eating crustaceans, small bivalves and the like.

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.

Keep in mind

Poor maneuverability

This species cannot maneuver in strong currents, especially so when small.

Pay particular attention to the pump’s water inlet as these fish in certain circumstances, can get stuck.

Personality

This species often has a fun and interesting personality.

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.

FishBase

Aquarium trade	Yes
Distribution	Indo-Pacific: Red Sea (Ref. 12541) and East Africa (Ref. 12484) to the Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island (Ref. 9710).
English common names	Longhorn cowfish Long-horn cowfish Long horned cowfish Long-horned cowfish
Danish common names	Kofisk
French common names	Coffre Poisson vache à longues cornes

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)