Honeycomb Cowfish

The Honeycomb cowfish (Acanthostracion polygonus) species enters the aquarium trade infrequently. Part of their rareness may be attributed to the fact that they typically inhabit offshore reefs of 3 to 80 meters deep.

Besides residing in the same waters, Honeycomb cowfish are also very closely related to the Scrawled cowfish in other ways. Honeycomb cowfish can also attain a length of 20 inches. Their overall appearance and body shape are nearly identical to the Scrawled cousin; however, they display a polygonal hexagon pattern that resembles a honeycomb. This design helps the fish camouflage themselves with superior effectiveness.

During mating, the male of Honeycomb species is reported to turn a deep blue and produce an audible hum. In their natural habitat, Honeycomb cowfish consume sponges, alcyonarians, tunicates, and shrimps. Their care is similar to the Longhorn cowfish. They are found from New Jersey to Bermuda and Brazil, but are not usually found in the Gulf of Mexico. They are also found in regions of Ascension, St. Helena, Azores, and the East Atlantic in general.