Meleagris Boxfish
Ostracion meleagris, female
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Stock | 2 - 3" - Female - Black - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $171.99.$90.99Current price is: $90.99. | 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.
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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 | 180 gallons |
| Max Size | 10 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Meleagris Boxfish (Ostracion meleagris) is also called the Spotted Boxfish, Black Boxfish, Blue Boxfish, or White-spotted Boxfish. Female specimens are dark brown to black with clean white spotting and a distinctly “boxy,” armored profile as they cruise the rockwork.
What You’ll Observe:
- Slow, steady swimming using small fin strokes, with frequent stops to inspect rock and sand
- Short “patrol routes” around a favorite area, returning to the same ledges and caves
- Picking behavior throughout the day—nosing into crevices and grazing at surfaces
- Noticeable interest in feeding time, often learning where food lands and checking that spot first
To help this fish settle in, provide an established tank with plenty of live rock, open swim lanes, and calm tankmates that won’t crowd it at meals. Offer a varied mix of meaty frozen foods (mysis, chopped clam, shrimp) plus sponge-based and algae-containing foods, using mostly sinking or target-fed portions. Consistent routines and stable conditions support confident daytime foraging.
Do Meleagris Boxfish usually accept frozen foods right away?
Some start eating immediately, while others take a few days to recognize prepared foods; offering clam on the half shell or finely chopped seafood placed in the same spot can help them “lock in” on a feeding station.
Why do some hobbyists avoid floating foods with boxfish?
Many keepers prefer sinking foods or target feeding so the fish can eat naturally in the water column without spending time gulping at the surface.
Can this species handle high-flow reef tanks?
They tend to swim deliberately, so it helps to create low-to-moderate flow zones behind rockwork where it can cruise and feed without being pushed around.
Is it normal for a boxfish to spend a lot of time “hovering” near rockwork?
Yes—hovering, pausing, and picking at surfaces is typical daytime behavior, especially once it has chosen a home area and starts working it for bites.
Can you keep more than one Meleagris Boxfish together long-term?
Most aquarists keep them singly, but in larger systems some people report success with a male/female pair when both have space and separate retreat areas.
We work with trusted suppliers who keep our specimens healthy and well-fed before shipping.
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