Foxface trouble...

BestMomEver · Jul 12, 2018

hey guys... I am having a problem with a new Foxface. I received him yesterday. I expected him to be all kinds of weird colors when I got him as I understand they will do that. But, he was also upside down! He was also very thin. I drip acclimated for about 1.5 hours and he was right side up when I put him in my QT. Of course, the first thing he did was hide in the back of the tank. Except for a brief look-see last night, he hasn’t come out. I put nori on a clip for him this morning and he acted like he wanted it and he may have nipped at it. I’m not 100% sure he ate any. At the moment he is still behind the rock and listing from side to side. He’s having difficulty staying upright. I also bought a Tailspot Blenny from the same vendor who is doing fine.

Please tell me if there is anything at all I can do for him. I’ve tried to stay away from the tank as much as possible so I don’t stress him more. Please help!

MarinaP · Jul 12, 2018

Turn the lights off for today, and give him time. Keep putting small pieces of nori on the clip, preferably transparent one.

BestMomEver · Jul 12, 2018

MarinaP said:
Turn the lights off for today, and give him time. Keep putting small pieces of nori on the clip, preferably transparent one.

Ok thanks...I’ll turn off the light... and my clip is clear... that’s good!

MarinaP · Jul 12, 2018

They are shy fish in the beginning. The good news is that they rarely carry parasites, like ich. He might be interested in mysis, too.

BestMomEver · Jul 12, 2018

MarinaP said:
They are shy fish in the beginning. The good news is that they rarely carry parasites, like ich. He might be interested in mysis, too.

He ignored the mysis and attempted the Nori but was too weak. He looked starved which makes me wonder if anyone at the vendors shop actually witnessed him eating. Anyway, he died. He barely made it 24 hours. It makes me sick. I’ve tried to buy only captive bred fish but I don’t want a tank full of chromis, dottybacks and weird looking clownfish. I am not sure who to buy from anymore. Any suggestions? Fortunately, the Blenny they sent is doing ell.

MarinaP · Jul 12, 2018

I have never had any major problems with fish from divers den. Foxface in the pic below is about 10 years old. I just bought a baby one 2 months ago from them, too.

Instigate · Jul 12, 2018

esimison said:
He ignored the mysis and attempted the Nori but was too weak. He looked starved which makes me wonder if anyone at the vendors shop actually witnessed him eating. Anyway, he died. He barely made it 24 hours. It makes me sick. I’ve tried to buy only captive bred fish but I don’t want a tank full of chromis, dottybacks and weird looking clownfish. I am not sure who to buy from anymore. Any suggestions? Fortunately, the Blenny they sent is doing ell.

Seeing the fish in person, seeing it eat with your own eyes, and being able to check in on the fish over the course of a week or so are all reasons why I prefer to buy my fish from a LFS.

BestMomEver · Jul 12, 2018

MarinaP said:
I have never had any major problems with fish from divers den. Foxface in the pic below is about 10 years old. I just bought a baby one 2 months ago from them, too.

I’ve had good luck with DD as well. This fish didn’t come from LA. Wish now it had... BTW, your Zoster Butterflies are just beautiful!

BestMomEver · Jul 12, 2018

Instigate said:
Seeing the fish in person, seeing it eat with your own eyes, and being able to check in on the fish over the course of a week or so are all reasons why I prefer to buy my fish from a LFS.

Yea... except that I live in an area that is relatively small. Only three LFS here. One of them I will no longer buy from...no quarantine and sick fish all over. The other two have healthy stuff but are small and have a VERY small variety of fish. You would think that living on the Gulf Coast would mean an abundance of SW specialty stores, but this is sadly not the case.

Instigate · Jul 12, 2018

esimison said:
Yea... except that I live in an area that is relatively small. Only three LFS here. One of them I will no longer buy from...no quarantine and sick fish all over. The other two have healthy stuff but are small and have a VERY small variety of fish. You would think that living on the Gulf Coast would mean an abundance of SW specialty stores, but this is sadly not the case.

Yep, tough spot. Like others have said DD is probably your best bet. I don't have much experience with ordering online but I know DD/LA customer service is good. LFS will usually order you specific fish too.

BestMomEver · Jul 12, 2018

I went to commiserate about my Foxface with one of the LFS guys here in town. He got in a shipment with two little scribbled rabbit fish in the mix. One of them ran everyone off in an effort to get most of the mysis we put in the tank. I had to have him. He’s 2.5 inches of cuteness. He bobs his head out of the water trying to get whatever I might be bringing. I hope he does well. I’m attached already!