Ostracion meleagris

Datasheet

General Description

The Whitespotted Boxfish, scientifically known as Ostracion meleagris, belongs to the Ostraciidae family, recognized for its unique square shape and distinctive way of swimming. These fish typically have a special personality and are known to consume a diet comprising algae, coral polyps, zooplankton, and occasionally crustaceans. Upon stress or death, they can release a toxin harmful to other aquatic inhabitants.

Aquarium Suitability

Whitespotted Boxfish demands experience, preparation, and extra care due to their poor maneuverability and potential threat towards invertebrates. They have an average hardiness level and require a minimum tank size of 800 liters to thrive.

Care and Hardiness

These boxfish species can grow up to 25.0 cm in size and are indigenous to the East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, and various regions in the Pacific. They prefer water conditions with a pH of 8.1-8.4, a specific gravity of 1.020-1.025, and a temperature range of 22.2-25.6 degrees Celsius.

Reef Suitability

Whitespotted Boxfish are considered not reef safe due to their tendency to consume small invertebrates and the toxin they can release, which can be detrimental to coral reef inhabitants.

Aquarium Setup

Setting up an aquarium for Whitespotted Boxfish requires attention to gentle water circulation, as strong currents can hinder their movement. It is crucial to ensure that the fish cannot get stuck in the water pump's inlet. A diet consisting of macroalgae, small crustaceans, and large polyp stone corals is recommended for their nutritional needs.

Behaviour

These boxfish exhibit an interesting and engaging personality, making them a captivating addition to the aquarium. Their behavior is often characterized by their distinct swimming style and feeding habits, including consuming tubeworms, crustaceans, and soft corals.

Feeding and Diet

Whitespotted Boxfish primarily feed on large polyp stone corals, other invertebrates, and soft corals in their natural habitat. In an aquarium setting, they can be fed macroalgae, small crustaceans like krill, mysis, artemia, and seaweed or nori strips to meet their dietary requirements.

Habitat and Distribution

Indigenous to the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific regions, Whitespotted Boxfish can be found from East Africa to Mexico, extending northwards to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, and southwards to New Caledonia and the Tuamoto Islands. Their subspecies, Ostracion meleagris camurum, specifically inhabit the Hawaiian Islands.