Cowfish (boxfish) sitting around

Bagelbite · 11/20/2014, 09:20 PM

I have a 30 gallon tank with a longhorn cowfish that has started to act strange. 5 gallon water change completed 2 nights ago, tests show salinity 1.023, ph 8.4, ammonia .50 maybe 1.0, Phosphate 0, Nitrate 0, and Nitrite 0. Others in the tank are inverts, a scooter bleny, starfish, and live rock. Tank is over a year old, usually fed 50/50 or Gut Loaded Brine Shrimp.

He just wants to sit on the bottom, swims around fine, and then sits again. Never has just sat around before. While on the ground he does still slightly move his fins around. He got stuck against the filter a little yesterday, but only now is starting to act strange. He is only about an inch big, no color changes, no spots, no tears on fins. Appears to have control when swimming around, and then just slowly gives up, no tilt or lean.

Any help would be great. Thanks!

lagatbezan · 11/20/2014, 10:01 PM

Ammonia should be zero and any amount if it is bad. I would do a large water change ASAP.
When was the last time something new was added to the tank? do you qt?

Bagelbite · 11/21/2014, 06:59 AM

Nothing new has been added in at least a couple months. Even then it would have just been snails and crabs.

11/20/2014, 09:20 PM	#1
Bagelbite Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 2	Cowfish (boxfish) sitting around I have a 30 gallon tank with a longhorn cowfish that has started to act strange. 5 gallon water change completed 2 nights ago, tests show salinity 1.023, ph 8.4, ammonia .50 maybe 1.0, Phosphate 0, Nitrate 0, and Nitrite 0. Others in the tank are inverts, a scooter bleny, starfish, and live rock. Tank is over a year old, usually fed 50/50 or Gut Loaded Brine Shrimp. He just wants to sit on the bottom, swims around fine, and then sits again. Never has just sat around before. While on the ground he does still slightly move his fins around. He got stuck against the filter a little yesterday, but only now is starting to act strange. He is only about an inch big, no color changes, no spots, no tears on fins. Appears to have control when swimming around, and then just slowly gives up, no tilt or lean. Any help would be great. Thanks! Last edited by Bagelbite; 11/20/2014 at 09:35 PM.

11/20/2014, 10:01 PM	#2
lagatbezan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,109	Ammonia should be zero and any amount if it is bad. I would do a large water change ASAP. When was the last time something new was added to the tank? do you qt? __________________ Ryan. 300g with velocity t4 for return and a Reflo dart on a closed loop, T5 lights & SRO3000 skimmer. Current Tank Info: 300g

11/21/2014, 06:59 AM	#3
Bagelbite Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 2	Nothing new has been added in at least a couple months. Even then it would have just been snails and crabs.