When you hear Yellow Boxfish you might think of a fish that is yellow and shaped like a box, well your right. This little fish can grow up to be 45.0cm. When it is young it is neon yellow with spots. When it is an adult the color becomes brownish overall while still retaining its dark spots. The Yellow Boxfish needs to have lots of live rock and hiding places were it lives.

 

The Yellow Boxfish is found in the indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Tomato Islands. They live well in that ecosystem because they are poisons. It is more a toxin than a poison. The Yellow Boxfish releases the toxin under stress, when they are sick or are going to die.

 

The Yellow Boxfish is a very simple fish. It is not going to be extinct (according to scientists) because the are not threatened. This fish competes with sharks, algae fish, pelicans, seagulls and with humans for food. It eats primarily on algae, shrimp, fish meat, clams, and crab. The Yellow Boxfish mainly eats algae. The Yellow Boxfish has no predators probably because it gives out a toxin.

 

Here are some interesting facts: Yellow Boxfish can learn tricks easy. If you have them as pets they follow your finger in the tank. The toxin they release can wipe out entire aquariums killing all animals. Can be as small as a pea and grow up to be as big as a football.

 

Author: Kayla B.

Published: 03/2009

 

Sources: www.Fishbase.org/summary/speciessummary.php http://animal-world.com/encyclo/marine/puffers/polkadotbox.php http://www.Marinecenter.com/fish/boxfishes/yellowboxedfish.com MCCLANE'S FIELD GUIDE TO SALTWATER FISHES OF NORTH AMERICA. Canada: Holt Rinehart and Winston, 1965.

 

Photo Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ostracion_cubicus_(juvenile).jpg