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Longhorn Cowfish
Boxfish

Longhorn Cowfish

Lactoria cornuta

Named for the long horn-like spines projecting above each eye, this boxy, slow-hovering fish blows jets of water into the sand to unearth hidden prey. Like every member of the boxfish family it secretes a lethal skin toxin (pahutoxin/ostracitoxin) when stressed, injured or dying that can wipe out an entire tank — so it needs a large tank, calm non-nippy tankmates, and low-stress handling.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
18.1"
Min tank
250 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe with caution
Diet
Omnivore
Zone
Sand bed, Bottom
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Longhorn Cowfish gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Longhorn Cowfish.Blue-Leg Hermit CrabLonghorn Cowfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Blue-Leg Hermit Crab is on the menu.Trochus SnailLonghorn Cowfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Trochus Snail is on the menu.Astrea SnailLonghorn Cowfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Astrea Snail is on the menu.Cerith SnailLonghorn Cowfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Cerith Snail is on the menu.Nassarius SnailLonghorn Cowfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Nassarius Snail is on the menu.Nerite SnailLonghorn Cowfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Nerite Snail is on the menu.Mexican Turbo SnailLonghorn Cowfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Mexican Turbo Snail is on the menu.Bumble Bee SnailLonghorn Cowfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Bumble Bee Snail is on the menu.Fighting ConchLonghorn Cowfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Fighting Conch is on the menu.Scarlet Reef Hermit CrabLonghorn Cowfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab is on the menu.Zebra Hermit CrabLonghorn Cowfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Zebra Hermit Crab is on the menu.Halloween Hermit CrabLonghorn Cowfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Halloween Hermit Crab is on the menu.Emerald CrabLonghorn Cowfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Emerald Crab is on the menu.Sally Lightfoot CrabLonghorn Cowfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Sally Lightfoot Crab is on the menu.Skunk Cleaner ShrimpLonghorn Cowfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Skunk Cleaner Shrimp is on the menu.Fire ShrimpLonghorn Cowfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Fire Shrimp is on the menu.Peppermint ShrimpLonghorn Cowfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Peppermint Shrimp is on the menu.Coral Banded ShrimpLonghorn Cowfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Coral Banded Shrimp is on the menu.Tiger Pistol ShrimpLonghorn Cowfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.