Where to buy Thornback Cowfish
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About Thornback Cowfish
Distinctive boxy body shape with a tan or brown coloration and darker spots or blotches covering the head and body. Pronounced horn-like protrusions above each eye, giving it the "thornback" common name.
Key facts
- Care Requirements
- • 75+ gallon tank with excellent water quality (stable pH 8.1-8.3, dKH 8-12) • Sensitive to poor conditions; requires pristine water, low nitrate/phosphate • Peaceful but may nip at invertebrates and small crustaceans • Needs varied diet: meaty foods, quality pellets, occasional greens • Slow-moving; prefers calm tank without aggressive fish
- Diet Details
- Feed a varied diet of small crustaceans (copepods, amphipods), small mollusks, and meaty foods. Supplement with quality flake or pellet food. They forage continuously and may pick at live rock and sand.
- Reef safety
- Not Reef Safe
- Appearance
- Distinctive boxy body shape with a tan or brown coloration and darker spots or blotches covering the head and body. Pronounced horn-like protrusions above each eye, giving it the "thornback" common name.
- Common Health Issues
- Marine ich, Fin rot, Swim bladder disorder, Hole-in-the-head disease, Columnaris disease
- Water Parameters
- Temperature: 72-78°F pH: 8.1-8.4 Salinity: 1.02-1.025
- Max Size
- 9
- Family
- Ostraciidae
- Feeding Schedule
- Feed 2-3 times daily
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific region from the Philippines and Indonesia to Australia and the Great Barrier Reef.
- Care Level
- Moderate
- Difficulty Level
- Moderate - Thornback Cowfish requires standard marine aquarium maintenance and intermediate fish keeping skills.
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