Foxface shy?

[brilovescats]

Hello!

Just got my second one-spot foxface last night, did a lengthy drip acclimation. Little guy was very healthy-looking on his way home. This morning, he seems spooked by everything, in full camo pattern, hiding in a corner. A year ago, I got a one-spot online and he was spooked and shy as well before ultimately dying after a week.

Any tips on acclimating these guys? Are they known to be really skittish and shy? He's been in the dark tank all night, turned the lights right off after putting him in and they stayed off all night. Tank parameters are perfect, and the other fish are happy.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Foxfaces are notoriously skittish. The behavior you are describing is perfectly normal.

Try not to have too lengthy of a drip acclimation. Acclimation is stressful, so doing it quickly alleviates some of the stress the fish is facing. Unless the parameters are drastically different, no more than 30min, if it is close, just acclimate for temp.

 

[brilovescats]

Hello EB:

That's interesting to hear, all of the marine/reef keeping books I have (some that are very recent) advocate for a long/slow drip acclimation. Good to hear that they are notoriously shy, though, I won't worry about it yet then. I guess I'm just scared, the other one did this before, then a few days later did this weird thing where he swam around the tank as fast as possible before trying to jump out of the tank all along the back rim - I luckily had a lid. He died the next day, and I still don't know why, it was very sad.

B

 

[eatbreakfast]

The only time a longer acclimation is good is if the specific gravity that it was in before was very low, 1.017-1.019, and it is going into 1.024-1.026. Even then an hour would be too long. And never acclimate shipped fish for long at all due to ammonia toxicity.

Temperature dropping, nowhere to hide, floor vibrations are all problematic in acclimation. Getting them in the tank with cover, proper flow and aeration are much better than slow acclimation.

 

[brilovescats]

The only time a longer acclimation is good is if the specific gravity that it was in before was very low, 1.017-1.019, and it is going into 1.024-1.026. Even then an hour would be too long. And never acclimate shipped fish for long at all due to ammonia toxicity.

Temperature dropping, nowhere to hide, floor vibrations are all problematic in acclimation. Getting them in the tank with cover, proper flow and aeration are much better than slow acclimation.

Perfect, makes sense. I think he'll do better because I picked him up in person, he didn't get shipped to me. Fingers crossed, he is hands down my favourite fish I have ever owned.