Coleb
Community Member
I'm thinking about getting a fox face in my reef tank is that a bad idea? I have a torch coral hammer and candy cane will he nip on those? I want to get a cauliflower coral will he do anything to those?
A foxface in reef tank
- Thread starter Coleb
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I sort of rescued a Foxface Lo, and he is an ideal citizen in my 150 gal mixed reef. He is kind of boring (doesn't swim around much); but he's also an algae eating machine. However, I've heard horror stories of mixing them with corals - so there must be some rogues out there.
I sort of rescued a Foxface Lo, and he is an ideal citizen in my 150 gal mixed reef. He is kind of boring (doesn't swim around much); but he's also an algae eating machine. However, I've heard horror stories of mixing them with corals - so there must be some rogues out there.
afamousjohnson
Valuable Member
I have one in my FT. Never liked them but gave in due to issues. Seems fine so far but mostly sps in there. Seen tons in reef tanks? Had a blue tang be a terrible lps nipper before. Guess ya never know.
tyler1503
2500 Club Member
+1 they can get quite big. There are smaller rabbitfish out there that are more suited to a 55 but unfortunately don't have that foxface look.
There are smaller Rabbitfish than Foxfaces? I have never seen any. Link?
But I agree, a 55 is too small. For reference, I have a Magnificent in my 125. Tank is a very mixed reef. I keep it well fed, and it has been a model citizen. They are also very skittish fish. Most school in the wild, and so are very nervous when kept alone. They will often get scared and swim very fast around the tank. This would not go over well in a smaller tank I'm afraid.
MattL22
Valuable Member
Fox face I thought was smallest type of rabbit fish I have 2 a gold spot and a 2 barred and got them small they huge now with in a yr now I wish I could catch them because they eat so much and take so much room IMO just not a good fish for a tank under 500 + gallos I tried for few weeks to catch but they r very fast and powerful when need be I gave up trying to catch them
tyler1503
2500 Club Member
I don't know a scientific name or a link. I've seen them at the LFS a few times. They have a deep blue, almost navy, colour body with tiny yellow/orange spots all over. They were labelled as orange spot rabbits, but there's other species with the same common name. Supposedly they max out around 8 inches or so, but I'm just going off what the LFS said lol.
This is likely it: Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Yellow Blotch Rabbitfish
But they get much larger than Foxfaces. I think the LFS was trying to make a sale, or just did not know. Either way, as mentioned I think Foxfaces are the smallest of the Rabbitfish genus. And all get too big for a 55.
tyler1503
2500 Club Member
Hmmmm. I think your right. These look slightly different to the ones I've seen, although that may be just diet or collection point related.
My mistake!
No worries, I was afraid there was a species or two I was not aware of!
You probably saw Siganus uspi. They also get larger than a one spot foxface. No foxface is suitable for a 55g IMO.
One spots can be corals nippers, but usually aren't. My current one eats slime off my LPS, irritating them frequently, but doesn't do any real damage. I've had one in the past that ate leather coral polyps. They're "mostly" reef safe. Much safer than say, a dwarf angel, but still a small risk.
