Lactoria cornuta

Datasheet

General Description

The Longhorn Cowfish, scientifically known as Lactoria cornuta, belongs to the Ostraciidae family, characterized by their unique square shape and distinctive way of swimming. They typically feed on a mix of algae, coral polyps, zooplankton, and sometimes crustaceans. With a maximum size of 45.0cm, these fish are from the East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, Australia, Japan, The Red Sea, and the Indo-Pacific region.

Aquarium Suitability

Aquarium suitability of Longhorn Cowfish demands experience, preparation, and extra care due to their delicate nature. They require a minimum tank size of 1500 liters to accommodate their growth, making it challenging to keep them in a typical home aquarium setup. These fish are mostly peaceful but can exhibit aggression towards similar species. They are not reef safe due to their threatening behavior towards invertebrates.

Care and Hardiness

Longhorn Cowfish have a fun and interesting personality, but they lack maneuverability, particularly in strong currents. Special attention must be given to the water circulation to prevent them from getting stuck in pump inlets. Moreover, their poisonous skin, released when highly stressed or dying, can be fatal to other aquatic life in the tank.

Reef Suitability

With luck, Longhorn Cowfish can be considered reef safe. However, their tendency to eat crustaceans, small bivalves, and various invertebrates makes them a potential threat to a reef environment.

Aquarium Setup

A Longhorn Cowfish aquarium should be large enough to accommodate their size and provide ample swimming space. Ideal water conditions include a temperature range of 22.2-25.6°C, a pH of 8.1-8.4, a dKH of 8-12, and a specific gravity of 1.020-1.025. Substrate, rocks, and plants should be carefully chosen to avoid potential harm to the fish.

Behaviour

Longhorn Cowfish exhibit mostly peaceful behavior but can display aggression towards similar species. Their unique swimming style and interesting personality make them intriguing additions to a well-prepared aquarium environment.

Feeding and Diet

These fish enjoy a diet consisting of large polyp stone coral, other invertebrates, and soft coral. They are also known to feed on tubeworms and should be offered macroalgae like seaweed or nori, along with small crustaceans such as krill, mysis, and artemia.

Habitat and Distribution

Longhorn Cowfish are found in the Indo-Pacific region, ranging from the Red Sea and East Africa to islands in the Pacific Ocean. Their habitat includes a variety of coral reefs, where they forage for food and rely on their unique swimming abilities for survival.