Fox Face on tank bottom acting like its dead

PegasisR · Dec 12, 2018

My new foxface added in over 4hrs ago is still on the tanks bottom. Its acting like its dead and seems to be stressed as its taking on its brown colouration as i think most do when stressed. No signs of ich or disease.

Stock so far are:

2x clown fish
1x cleaner shrimp

parameters:

Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
nitrate-dont know
Ph-8.2

What could it be? earlier it was swimming and for a little bit and then its been idle on the bottom

PegasisR · Dec 12, 2018

I feel so far hes in a spout of anxiety or just scared, because he just swam a little after posting without the brown spots showing but with his spine popping out looking at his reflection. Then he went back to hanging around the bottom with the brown spots.

Maritimer · Dec 13, 2018

That sounds like pretty normal foxface behaviour. (I actually watched one at a Petco, and for the two or three months they had it, it barely snuck out from behind the rocks at feeding time - and nearly never assumed its brighter "daylight" colors!)

See how this fellow does tomorrow, when the lights come up - I suspect you'll be pleasantly surprised.

~Bruce

PegasisR · Dec 13, 2018

Maritimer said:
That sounds like pretty normal foxface behaviour. (I actually watched one at a Petco, and for the two or three months they had it, it barely snuck out from behind the rocks at feeding time - and nearly never assumed its brighter "daylight" colors!)

See how this fellow does tomorrow, when the lights come up - I suspect you'll be pleasantly surprised.

~Bruce

Thank you for the positive reassurance! As a new hobbyist its heart wrenching when you see a new pet not acting right but im glad to hear its normal

Will definitely monitor him closely

Also to add just incase but he wouldnt move either when the lights in my room over the tank were on (not tank lights) but before when the room lights were on, he darted from one side to the other with his spine up for a little and then went back to hanging on the bottom for the remainder... during the time then and now i on'd the room light twice to check

ZaneTer · Dec 13, 2018

In my own experience they are very hardy fish. Perhaps dim your lights for short while to give it a chance to relax. The poor thing probably thinks it has been dumped into a floodlit prison instead of its new home.

AquaLifeStudio · Dec 13, 2018

I've caught mine resting on the sandy bottom of it's tank. Worried me a bit at first but it has become normal behavior.

Hopefully, yours is fine and is just a little stressed out.

Hemmdog · Dec 13, 2018

Deff find out your nitrate, alk, salinity, and temp. That’s more important

Frtdrmrose7 · Dec 13, 2018

How did you acclimate him? I ask because most stores keep their salinity around 1.020 and most of us are up around 1.025-.026. If not acclimated right that is a huge jump in salinity.

Subsea · Dec 13, 2018

Normal behavior. More than any other fish, I have found Foxface very temperamental even in an established tank for several years. Shipping stress is a big deal. Reduce stress as much as possible.

PegasisR · Dec 13, 2018

I acclimated the little guy properly with a slow drip from 1.018 - 35ppt

took about an 1hr and a half

Salinity- 35ppt
Temp- 78
Alk-6.7
Nitrate-20

Might I add aswell last night at around 4-5am he was zipping around the tank and now hes on the sand bed with his normal colouration just idling again!

PegasisR · Dec 13, 2018

The fox face hasnt eaten anything yet either it's been maybe 15hrs... the Los told me it was eating before I got him aswell... anything I could do to get it to eat?

ZaneTer · Dec 13, 2018

I promise not eating for a day won’t cause it a problem at all. If you are worried then call the LFS and ask them what they specifically feed their fish.

In future never buy a fish unless it has been fed in front of you.

67chevellemalibu2 · Dec 14, 2018

That would ever eliminate buying online, then.

Tango Tangy · Dec 14, 2018

I had a foxface do the same when I put it into my 50 gallon tank. It did it for a few weeks and then became more comfortable in the tank and everything was god as new. He is just getting used to his surroundings!

JumboShrimp · Dec 14, 2018

Assuming there is nothing ‘toxic’ in your tank, and assuming you have enough means and manner of oxygenation, I agree with the others that unless you salinity or temperature shocked him, then he will likely de-stress over the next few days and be a happy, eating, swimming fish. They go through some wild color-changes, so don’t let that alone throw you. Let us know how he does!

BigJim · Dec 14, 2018

PegasisR said:
The fox face hasnt eaten anything yet either it's been maybe 15hrs... the Los told me it was eating before I got him aswell... anything I could do to get it to eat?

What are you feeding it? Over time it should eat just about anything, but many fish can be picky for the first few days.

PegasisR · Dec 14, 2018

Hi guys so sorry for late reply! But the fox face has started nibbling on some nori

he hangs around the bottom a little and is usually active when the room light or tank lights are on(mainly tank light), but hes eating! So far swimming well aswell. For parameters I check my salinity every other day and it's right at or just a mm under 35ppt.