Yellow Boxfish
Snapshot: With its boxy body, vibrant yellow hue, and bold black spots, this boxfish is unmistakable. As they mature, their look shifts: from pale yellowish-grey to bluish or purplish-brown, sporting a yellow tail base and tiny black spots peppering their fins.
Other tidbits: Can grow up to a whopping 45cm or so! Distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific region including Australian waters.
Bare bones must know: Live-rock fish-only system, or fish-only system. Use a container, not a net, for transfer to prevent stress. Handle with extreme care, its defense mechanism, is lethal. When threatened or when it dies, it releases a toxin deadly to other tank mates. Best kept in its own aquarium. Larger sized aquarium needed.
Aquarium set-up: Provide ample room for swimming, a sandy bed for hunting and plenty of appropriately sized hideouts (no cramped caves — these boxfish won't squeeze in with their sturdy bodies). These hiding spots spare the boxfish from toxic showdowns with aggressors. Maintain an aquatic utopia by nailing the basics: rock-solid water quality with top-notch filtration and routine partial water changes.
Feeding: Boxfish feast on live brine shrimp or mysis shrimp. Once settled in, treat them to chopped squid, clams, mussels, and herbivore preparations.
AQT note: All our fish feast on a diet of seaweed, marine pellets, flakes and frozen treats under our care. Keep the feast going in your tank!