Tetrosomus gibbosus

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Facts
Latin name Tetrosomus gibbosus - (Linnaeus, 1758)
Local name Humpback turretfish
Family Ostraciidae - Tetrosomus
Origin East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, Australia, Japan, The Red Sea, Indonesia, New Zealand, Central/West Pacific
Max length 30 cm (11.8")
As aquarium fish
Minimum volume 2000 l (528 gal)
Hardiness Unknown
Suitable for aquarium Suitable with care
Reef safe Not reef safe
Aggressiveness Unknown
Feed
Recommended Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...)
Zooplankton (Cyclops, pods...)
Mostly Larger crustaceans (Shrimp, crabs...)
Other invertebrates
Beware of
Eats tubeworms

This species likes to eat tubeworms.

Threat towards crustaceans

This species poses a threat towards shrimps and crabs etc., which are relatively small.

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.

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.

Fastidious feeder

These fish eat exceptionally slowly and can be very selective feeders.

It can therefore be problematic to provide it with a sufficient and varied diet, in an aquarium with other, faster feeding species.

Personality

This species often has a fun and interesting personality.

Hiding places

This species needs good hiding places, for example, between live rocks.

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
Distribution Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea (Ref. 3141) and East Africa to Indonesia, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia. Immigrated into the southeastern Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.
Danish common names Trekantet kuffertfisk
English common names Humpback turretfish
Hunchback turretfish
French common names Poisson-coffre pyramide
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)