Foxface rabbitfish

[BA]

Hello,

Anybody know if the foxface rabbitfish is reef safe? My LFS--a good one--assures me they are, and are great algae eaters. The new Scott Micheal book tho' suggests they may sometimes eat corals. Anybody have any direct experience with keeping them, not book learnin' or heresay?

Thanx,
BA

[Doug1]

Hey BA they are like cousins to tangs, good herbivores and I havent heard of the coral harrasing, but no personal exp on them

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Reef as if your life depended on it, yours might but the sea's does
Doug moderator TheReefTank

[BA]

Thanks Doug,

I bought one of the critters and so far, so good. I did my homework--the authorities disagree, as so often. Mine went right to work on filimentatious algae and caulerpa and doesn't seen interested in corals. My guess (and my hope) is that as long as he's got veggies to chew on he won't sample corals.

Best,
BA

[Niven]

I had a Foxface a while back. He never touched any of my corals. I did not have any SPS though. I really doubt he would touch those though. Great fish. He did not touch 'saw blade' calerpa, but all others was fair game. He also became very tame, he'd eat right out of my hand. Remember their first few spines(I think) are poisonous. They won't stick you on purpose, but just becareful.
HTH,
Niven

[Doug1]

good call on the spine, yes they are toxic but these guys dont seem aggressive, then agin neithr are lionfish as a rule. Just be aware of them with hands in the tank and dont freak them out, FWIW freaked tangs are capable of nasty slashes. Lots of marine creaures, both fish and inverts have effective defenses. Please educate yiourself and if you get stung stabbed bit or whatever, tell some one. You may be OK at the time but reactions and or anaphalactic shock can set in rapidly and when it it does you may not be able to communicate whats wrong. Reef as if your life depended on it, and be careful in there

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Reef as if your life depended on it, yours might but the sea's does
Doug moderator TheReefTank

[asmith]

Doug is right. Most marine fish have one type of defense, if not multiple types. I had a yellow tang in a QT tank while treating him for ich. When I went to catch him and acclimate him back to the main tank, he was constantly trying to nail me with his spines. He was really ticked off about being moved around. Be careful and you will be happy. A slight lapse in your concentration, and you may have some expensive medical bills.

Andrew

[Doug1]

Righto, you dont want to know what a $20 dwarf zebra (D. zebra) cost me in 1976 dollars.
Please By all means be considerate and careful

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Reef as if your life depended on it, yours might but the sea's does
Doug moderator TheReefTank

[horge]

This would be Lo vulpinus, right?

It is primarily an herbivore, but in the course of its juvenile tenancy on the reef, it inevitably ingests some coral tissue as it clears algae off of the bases of branching colonies. In the course of any in-tank neurosis (see shortly below), it can develop a liking for such proteinaceous material. Same deal with other Siganids (and even some Acanthids)

A semi-pelagic schooler as a sub-adult onwards, it naturally looks for open water at that stage of development, and the claustrophobic confines of even large home aquaria can (IMO) drive some of these fishes into psychotic territoriality --pretty much in parallel to the adult nastiness that develops in some tank-imprisoned tangs. Nevertheless I've seen a number that apparently adjusted quite well to their 100 to 300gal homes.

It definitely can stick you painfully with 'venomous' dorsal spines (I know this personally, I developed a 2-day fever from it). It's a very interesting fish, and appears to be a worthy challenge for long term husbandry. Keep us posted, hehe.

[The above is part book-learning, part husbandry experience, and part observation of other, more sucecessful efforts at keeping the species long-term, and very much derives from personal field observation. I wouldn't call it hearsay, unless you count my rant on tank-induced neurosis, but you are of course free to form your own estimate.]

[This message has been edited by horge (edited 08-05-2000).]

[Doug1]

Horge its good to have your charming wit back

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Reef as if your life depended on it, yours might but the sea's does
Doug moderator TheReefTank