All fish / Ostraciidae

Reticulate Boxfish

Ostracion solorensis

Also known as reticulated boxfish, solor boxfish, network boxfish, reticulate trunkfish, solor trunkfish, ミナミハコフグ, ikan buntal kotak, 网纹箱鲀

This is a small boxfish with a hard, box-shaped body. Males are blue with a network of fine lines and spots, while females are brown with a pale net pattern. Advanced reef keepers value it as an unusual and attractive specimen fish.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Omnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, sponge-based and algae foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, northern Australia, Melanesia

Breeding

Pairs spawn in open water at dusk and the eggs and larvae drift in the plankton. It has not been bred reliably in home aquariums.

Good to know

When stressed or dying it can release ostracitoxin, a toxin that may kill everything in the tank, so strong filtration and calm tankmates are essential. It often refuses food at first and is not a good choice for beginners.