Ostracion Meleagris commonly know as the spotted boxfish. The name box is due to the appearance like a box, with white spots on the body. The male is the more colorful compared to the female.
Spotted boxfish can grow up to 10 inches in length. They are found almost every ware from the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands. They are mostly found in the clear lagoons to the depth of at least 30 meters.
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Spotted boxfish is a notorious fish and is known for releasing toxins when stressed which is a survival mechanism. This toxin is powerful and will wipe out the fish population in the aquarium. The Spotted Boxfish should be attempted by experienced and well matured aquarium. We maintain separate system for such marine fish.
This species requires slow water currents. Spotted boxfish would fold its tail with is body and float away. Box would be spotted mostly on the top of the aquarium when the lights are switched on and hide in the rock creeks at night.
When introduced to the aquarium, the Boxfish can be fed a diet of live brine shrimp and bloodworms and slowly can be forced to feed on flakes and pellets. The one we received in the shipment is feeding on flake food and we also gave live brine shrimps.
Ostracion Meleagris is a beautiful looking fish and needs to be handled with care being toxic is one part another is its special requirements.
