Longhorn Cowfish

Geographic Origin and Biotope: MARINE. Indo-Pacific (from the Red Sea and East Africa, to Indonesia, up to Japan). Inhabits calm coastal estuaries, harbors and seagrass meadows on sandy/muddy bottoms.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Longhorn Cowfish (Lactoria cornuta). Iconic and bizarre: rigid body encapsulated in a bony carapace, "calf" snout and, above all, two long protruding frontal "horns" (and two posterior ones).

Social Behavior: Slow and clumsy swimmer (uses only the small fins for propulsion, helicopter style). Peaceful towards other fish and curious. Establishes a strong bond with the owner who feeds it, following him from the glass.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Background ranging from sandy yellow to bright olive yellow/green. Studded with beautiful blue ocellated spots. In case of stress it can fade into a pale beige. No externally identifiable sexual dimorphism.

Aquarium Setup: Huge Fish Only With Live Rock (FOWLR) tank (min. 500 liters / 130 gallons). Warning: the aquarium must have MEDIUM/SLOW water flow. Blasted currents would make it crash against the rocks, seriously injuring it given its poor swimming skills.

Diet and Feeding: Voracious omnivore. Sweeps the bottom blowing away the sand. Provide gel foods, nori algae, chopped clam/mussel pulp (to wear down the beak teeth) and mysis. Frequent but measured meals.

Water Quality: Standard marine quality but ZERO tolerance for thermal shock. Pay attention to wavemakers (protect the grills): swimming badly, they risk being sucked in and remaining trapped, killing themselves.

Compatibility and Tankmates: NOT Reef-Safe: will devour polychaetes, snails, shrimp and peck at corals. Tankmates must be very calm (Batfish, Seahorses or Anthias). Forbidden Triggerfish, pufferfish and fast Surgeonfish that would stress it.

Aquarium Reproduction: Impossible. Pelagic species that releases floating eggs in the open sea at sunset (Haremic serial spawners).

Risks and Diseases: TOXIC BOMB. Like boxfish, if severely stressed, sick or scared to death, it can release Ostracitoxin through the skin: a poisonous foam that will kill all the fish in the tank in a few minutes.