Foxface = not reef safe. Try again?

[Miami Reef]

I’ve had 2 foxface fish nip/pick at my LPS brain corals in the past. I can’t remember if I ever had a good experience with one.

Ever since I rehomed the last one, the bubble algae really started taking off.

I’m thinking of trying one again. I have a really good fish trap, so I’m not worried about removing the fish if it starts nipping.

Has anyone had a good experience with a foxface fish being a good citizen in a reef tank?

Edit: by brain corals, I mean trachyphyllia.

 

[CoralB]

I’ve had 2 foxface fish nip/pick at my LPS brain corals in the past. I can’t remember if I ever had a good experience with one.

Ever since I rehomed the last one, the bubble algae really started taking off.

I’m thinking of trying one again. I have a really good fish trap, so I’m not worried about removing the fish if it starts nipping.

Has anyone had a good experience with a foxface fish being a good citizen in a reef tank?

Ive always had good experience with them . the only issue I ever had was a yellow eye kole tang buddied up with the foxface and the kole tang got more aggressive.

 

[Miami Reef]

Ive always had good experience with them . the only issue I ever had was a yellow eye kole tang buddied up with the foxface and the kole tang got more aggressive.

Do you keep brain corals?

 

[Tonycass12]

No problems with mine although my tank leans much more sps. I do have a acans and a elegance coral among a few other lps but he's never touched them outside of being stung by the elegance coral.

 

[Gtinnel]

Mine has been a model citizen for the last few years although I don’t have brain corals. I’ve always heard that as they get bigger they’re more likely to nip, so maybe a smaller one is more likely to eat the bubble algae and leave your coral alone.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Never had any issues with mine

 

[Miami Reef]

Never had any issues with mine

Hey, Crabs Mcjones.


Do you keep brain corals?

 

[ninjamyst]

I had one that ate zoas and brain coral. Sold it and got another one. And it eats zoas again....sigh

 

[TurboTang]

Never had a problem with mine in over 4 yrs. Depends what type of brain coral you mean, but mine has never touched this large favia colony. But I keep nori and spirulina tabs available most every day - and I really think this is key. If you want to limit food to have an ultra clean system they will probably find something to eat that is important to you. Similar to my border collies - great dogs but you have to keep them occupied or they will find their own "fun things to do"

 

[Suesea]

I’ve had 2 foxface fish nip/pick at my LPS brain corals in the past. I can’t remember if I ever had a good experience with one.

Ever since I rehomed the last one, the bubble algae really started taking off.

I’m thinking of trying one again. I have a really good fish trap, so I’m not worried about removing the fish if it starts nipping.

Has anyone had a good experience with a foxface fish being a good citizen in a reef tank?

I want to remove my 4yr old magnificent foxface just for that reason and is also showing some aggressive behavior to tank mates. Beautiful large fish though, it use to be my favorite until it ate my red and yellow lobo brain.

 

[Miami Reef]

Depends what type of brain coral you mean

I’m referring to trachyphyllia.

 

[TurboTang]

I’m referring to trachyphyllia.

I don't have any trachyphyllia but I doubt my foxface would touch it if there is nori hanging on the glass.

 

[Suesea]

It doesn't matter how much nori there is around, this pig fish will eat zoas, acans, brains, Duncan's after gobbling nori all day. I have only softies, gorgos, and a couple of nps corals now.

 

[TurboTang]

It doesn't matter how much nori there is around, this pig fish will eat zoas, acans, brains, Duncan's after gobbling nori all day. I have only softies, gorgos, and a couple of nps corals now.

Bummer - they are great fish for relatively new tanks that experience a lot of different algae outbreaks. I have very little now and have to give a lot of different grazing alternatives - mainly nori and spirulina tabs. I wonder if one day it will turn. Also perhaps some of the different varieties are more likely to go after corals? I have Siganus vulpinus and have not had any problems that I could verify

 

[Suesea]

Bummer - they are great fish for relatively new tanks that experience a lot of different algae outbreaks. I have very little now and have to give a lot of different grazing alternatives - mainly nori and spirulina tabs. I wonder if one day it will turn. Also perhaps some of the different varieties are more likely to go after corals? I have Siganus vulpinus and have not had any problems that I could verify

I'm glad that your not experiencing any problems with your vulpinus. Malificant the Magnificent was an awesome and upstanding citizen fish until one day...it wasn't.

 

[blaxsun]

I’ve had 2 foxface fish nip/pick at my LPS brain corals in the past. I can’t remember if I ever had a good experience with one.

Ever since I rehomed the last one, the bubble algae really started taking off.

I’m thinking of trying one again. I have a really good fish trap, so I’m not worried about removing the fish if it starts nipping.

Has anyone had a good experience with a foxface fish being a good citizen in a reef tank?

Edit: by brain corals, I mean trachyphyllia.

I don't have any trachys in my tank to tempt him, but he generally leaves everything I have alone.

 

[Miami Reef]

I have decided against the foxface. Thanks guys!

I will try a mix of pitho + emerald crabs from reef cleaners.

 

[Troylee]

Love mine and he doesn’t mess with anything in my tank.. I don’t have any brain corals thou.. a few acans and Zoas but he’s never even looked at them. My sticks and torches, hammers etc are all fine.

 

[Miami Reef]

Love mine and he doesn’t mess with anything in my tank.. I don’t have any brain corals thou.. a few acans and Zoas but he’s never even looked at them. My sticks and torches, hammers etc are all fine.

My previous foxface fish didn’t harm my Acans/euphyllia either. In my experience, they only prefer trachyphyllia. I would feed them well, but it didn’t really matter.

 

[SPS2020]

@Miami Reef What fish trap do you use? Just curious in case of future need.