Barred Cowfish

Of recent, Australian cowfish species are entering the American aquarium trade. The three species of that region are the Barred, Ornate and Shaws cowfish. Because of the high shipping costs to the United States, the few specimens that do become available to the U.S. are costly. Few average aquarists are able to afford them.

Care for these species is similar to tropical cowfish; however, these species are from temperate waters and require tank temperatures between 50 to 65 degrees F. This is much cooler than the temperature requirement for tropical species. Hence, a chiller may need to be installed onto an Australian cowfish tank to keep temperatures within an acceptable range.

These fish feed on shrimp, crustaceans, and other invertebrates in their natural habitat. Shortly after breeding season, fishermen are menaced with juvenile specimens who steal bait from their fishing hooks.

Tankmates should be docile and of similar disposition. However, these species may be housed with seahorses, unlike tropical species. The Australian cowfish do not have the tendency to nip and pick on the slower moving seahorses, as the Longhorn species, for example, will. The Barred cowfish (Anoplocapros lenticularis) is more globular shaped than tropical cowfish. More spectacular specimens are bright orange or red with clearly visible white striping. They reach approximately 15 inches in length, so they would require an aquarium near 125 gallons.