Red Sea Boxfish

The Red Sea Boxfish male is the more colourful of the two, with a vibrant blue and black spotted sides with an olive green back. The female has a yellow body with blue spots and a red cheeks.

This is a very difficult fish to keep in the aquarium setting by any other than the most experienced aquarist. Use caution if placing the Red Sea Boxfish in a reef tank as they will often nibble at tubeworms. When stressed, the Red Sea Boxfish releases a poisonous substance, called ostracitoxin, from its mucous glands which will kill other fish in the tank very quickly.

Very little success has been achieved in breeding these fish in an aquarium. When first introduced, the Red Sea Boxfish can be fed a diet of live brine shrimp or bloodworms. After acclimatization, chopped squid, clams, mussels, and herbivore preparations can be fed.