Longhorn Cowfish
Lactoria cornuta
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Stock | 2.25 - 3.5" - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $147.99.$77.99Current price is: $77.99. | Email me | |
| Out of Stock | 3.5 - 4.75" - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $211.99.$110.99Current price is: $110.99. | Email me | |
| Out of Stock | 2.25" or smaller - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $107.99.$56.99Current price is: $56.99. | Email me |
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Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Expert |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | With Caution |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Omnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 250 gallons |
| Max Size | 18 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Longhorn Cowfish (Lactoria cornuta) is a horned boxfish with a box-shaped body and two forward “horns,” often seen in yellow to tan tones with light spotting. It’s found across Indo-Pacific reef areas and is sometimes listed as a “yellow boxfish” in the trade.
What You’ll Observe:
- Slow, deliberate swimming with frequent hovering in open water
- Exploring rockwork and sand while “blowing” at the substrate to uncover food
- A consistent routine of cruising, pausing, then resuming patrol laps
- “Spitting” or splashing at the surface, especially around feeding time
To succeed with this species, provide a large aquarium with open swimming lanes plus rockwork it can browse and investigate. Offer a mixed menu of meaty foods and algae-based foods in smaller portions 2–3 times daily so it can eat at its pace. It does best with calm tankmates and a feeding approach (tongs/target feeding) that prevents faster fish from taking everything.
Why does my cowfish “spit” or splash water at the surface?
Many keepers report this as a learned attention/feeding behavior, especially when the fish associates you with food.
How do I make sure it gets enough food in a community tank?
Use a feeding station or target feed with tongs/pipette so food reaches it directly before faster fish clear the water column.
Do the horns stay long as it grows?
Hobbyists commonly notice the horns looking shorter or more worn over time; this is often reported as a normal change with growth and minor bumps.
Will it bother corals, tubeworms, or clams?
Some individuals ignore coral while others sample certain invertebrates (often soft-bodied items like worms), so keepers usually monitor behavior closely in mixed reefs.
Can it live with “nippy” or fast, competitive fish like triggers?
Most discussions lean toward calmer tankmates and less competition at meals; the more relaxed the social dynamic, the more consistent the cowfish tends to feed.
We work with trusted suppliers who keep our specimens healthy and well-fed before shipping.
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