Well that sucked but...I guess it could of sucked more
 

I'd love to know what's with cowfish, it seems many of the smaller ones die within the first few weeks of owning them:sad: I thought it was usually because they wouldn't eat or maybe because they got stressed out by tank mates or that the tank was too small or something but now I'm wondering if there's more to it then that.

I had mine for two months and he was eating and looking good the whole time I had him, he had such an awesome personality I was so happy I got him. He did have a bit of ich on him but just 2-3 spots on his fins, it seemed to come and go and it never seemed to bother him. I also never saw any of the other fish pick on him, they all just kinda would look at him funny (as if they were trying to figure out what he was) then ignore him. Even last night his colour was good, he ate well and seemed fine, but for some odd reason I came home today and found him dead :cry: Needless to say I was shocked and pretty upset.

I honestly thought that since he'd been doing so well and it had been 2 months, that I was in the clear and he'd live a long and happy life. I'd sure love to know WTH happened and why on earth he died :evil: On the bright side the rest of my tank seems fine so I don't believe he released any toxin when he died.

RIP little Hermie :cry:

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Oh poor little guy, he was so cute to. Sorry to here of this Laurie, my wife really wants a spotted box fish but I am so hesitant to get one.

R.I.P. little Hermie

Sorry to hear Laurie.. I've lost one too many box fish in this hobby as well, under pretty much the exact same circumstances. Often times there are things going on that are completely out of our field of view and control.

Thanks, I had wanted one for 3 years but the fear of it releasing toxin into the tank had always made me think twice. However after knowing a few people who never had any issues with them nuking a tank, I decided to take a chance. Very glad that my tank seems fine but it really sucked finding such a cool personable fish dead :sad:

Ya I still don't get how it could of been doing so well and then just be dead :cry: Very frustrating! I really would like to try another one in the future (as boxfish are my favorite saltwater fish) but I'm worried that another one might just up and die for no apparent reason :sad:

Same experience here. Wife wanted one for a couple years, tank was runinng for over a year, everything else survived.

Sad :( Sorry to hear. What frustrations some days..

Wow Laurie, sorry to hear, he was doing so good..... But like others have stated ive had a few of them die and never once lost another fish to the toxin..... I somewhat wonder if that isn't a myth....

Steve

:sad: Sorry to hear Laurie.... same thing happened to me and tank was fine.

Sorry to read that story, the little fella was spot on cute.

Chin up the rest of your tank mates are still around to make you smile :wink:

Sorry to hear, That is also a fish I've always wanted but been to nervious to get

J

Thanks Steve, it really sucked finding him dead :cry: He was doing so well, I really though he was going to survive for a long time. I had been really looking forward to watching him grow. Also mad at myself for not closely checking the tank before I left for work yesterday morning. I usually would check in the morning to see him and make sure he's ok, but I didn't yesterday morning, so now I'm wondering how long was he dead for.

Also I found him beside a rock sort of wedged in beside it but not really stuck in it. He was fairly easy to pull out with the net, so I don't think he got stuck in the rock, but I have heard of them getting spooked and wedging themselves into the rock and dying, so I really hope that's not what happened. However I can't help but wonder if only I checked on him before I left for work, because if he was stuck then maybe I could of unstuck him and saved him. But I guess I'll never know, and honestly when I found him he didn't seem stuck in the rock but it's hard to say for sure :sad: Needless to say it's driving me nuts not knowing what really happened or if he was still alive or not before I went to work :mmph:

As far as I'm aware it's not a myth but apparently (from what I've read) boxfish rarely ever release the toxin they have in them. They pretty much only will if they are being severely stressed out or picked on. I've also read that there are certain types of boxfish that are more toxic then others.

I didnt mean to say that they dont have a toxin, as that is proven, but i have yet to come across any stories of them dying and releasing it....so maybe more of a rare occurance....

Steve

Could it be that it was caught using cyanide and that damaged its internal organs? Even thought it ate fine but couldn't digest the food?
Or the foods we feed them are not their nature diet and they can't get enough of whatever nutrients they need and waste away.
Just a thought.

I agree that cyanide can cause this type of death, but I dont think that is the case with this one, I know where it came from and this facility does not sell any fish caught with cyanide.

Steve

Doubtful that it could of been cyanide since boxfish are very easy to catch. They literally swim right up to you and I've seen them go right into a container (mine even tried to swim into my net that I used to rise the food with :surprise:) also you could probably pick them up with your hands if you wanted to/or were brave enough to. I see no reason why a person would need to use cyanide to catch them.

Not sure about the diet but I know a few people who have had success with boxfish. However the people I know, who have had the most long term success, own large boxfish over 8 inches in size. Seems to me many of the small ones don't live very long, but I'm not sure why :sad:

Nice pics. I particularly like the second shot. He's got that "don't mess with me -or else" look.

Sorry for the loss.

Thanks, in my tank journal thread I titled that pic. "Are you lookin at me PUNK"

Does this mean you only use MAC certified dealers Steve? This, I am sure, is the only way to say 100% that cyanide was not used in collection.

For fish, yes Patrick, have been for years.... this is how i know

Steve

Nice to hear. I was not aware.

I love boxfish. I think they look so cool. I always fear them eating all my coral, as well everytime I see the one at elite aquatics that is the size of a football.. im like I cant have one.. that is huge!

But im sorry to hear you lost hime, even more so after 2 good months! Very sad :(