Introducing Foxfaces

[CanadianReefer]

Hi folks,

As many of you may know, I'm in the process of consolidating my various tanks. I have a fairly new 300g setup (220 + 80 sump). I have a magnificent foxface in the new system already - he's been in there for about a month. He's about 5-6", I'd say. He and my purple tang are not pals (they are territorial over the caves) but he seems to be fairly peaceful otherwise.

I broke down one of my former DTs over the weekend and the fish are currently in QT. I'm doing TTM before adding them to the new tank, since this particular tank was known to have ich in the past.
Most of the fish are small and I should have no issue, but the former tank contained a one spot foxface. He's roughly 3" and he's always been a really great fish with all of his tankmates. He is personable and not as shy as most are (eats from my hand, for instance).

Clearly I'm worried about introducing the two foxfaces. I can introduce him into the tank overnight, which I know helps a bit. I have limited ability to rearrange the rock work, since I have a fairly minimalist aquascape, but I can try to move a few things around. I'm hoping that because they are different sizes and the one spot is still a juvenile, that that may help a bit. Maybe I'll be lucky and they will not be the same gender, but I have no way of telling...

In the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions on how to smooth over the introduction a bit more? Has anyone done the same thing, and if so, what was the outcome?

 

[PiscesPower]

Have you considered using a social acclimation box?

 

[Tautog]

I moved things around it it seems to work better than anything. Then turn off lights, and add the new fish. This has worked for me repeatedly. As far as getting along, sometimes, but no always. Good Luck

 

[Diesel]

You say 220 is fine but I have seen them going after each other in a 1000g tank.
Their sting can be deadly to them as it paralyze the fish for a few seconds who got stung and won't survive a second attack.
That said I think one is enough for a 220.
My tank is 200 and I gave a magnificent maybe the more easy going from all of them but he's on his own.

 

[CanadianReefer]

You say 220 is fine but I have seen them going after each other in a 1000g tank.
Their sting can be deadly to them as it paralyze the fish for a few seconds who got stung and won't survive a second attack.
That said I think one is enough for a 220.
My tank is 200 and I gave a magnificent maybe the more easy going from all of them but he's on his own.

I know - that's why I'm worried :-( if I had the choice, I'd only have one or the other, but I'm consolidating tanks and this is one of the worrisome scenarios. The other will be the fact that I have 3 clownfish, which also doesn't normally work out so well.

If it's really bad and doesn't calm down, I suppose I'll have to decide which one to keep and which one to rehome, but it would be a tough call.

 

[CanadianReefer]

Have you considered using a social acclimation box?

I have an acclimation box, but I'm not sure it's large enough for a foxface. Physically, he'd certainly fit, but not a lot of room to roam. Have you seen really large ones anywhere??

 

[eatbreakfast]

I have an acclimation box, but I'm not sure it's large enough for a foxface. Physically, he'd certainly fit, but not a lot of room to roam. Have you seen really large ones anywhere??

There are larger critter keepers at most pet stores.

 

[Diesel]

I have an acclimation box, but I'm not sure it's large enough for a foxface. Physically, he'd certainly fit, but not a lot of room to roam. Have you seen really large ones anywhere??

One more option you have is your sump.
Anyways you are smart and know your stuff I hope you do the right thing.

 

[Maritimer]

Is there a way that you could insert a divider? Eggcrate can be used for that, and can offer a bit more time for social acclimation than the smaller boxes.

Even so, sometimes acclimation works, and sometimes not - the Rev just had a pretty rough incident with cranky tangs.

~Bruce

 

[CanadianReefer]

Is there a way that you could insert a divider? Eggcrate can be used for that, and can offer a bit more time for social acclimation than the smaller boxes.

Even so, sometimes acclimation works, and sometimes not - the Rev just had a pretty rough incident with cranky tangs.

~Bruce

I do have some eggcrate left over from the makeshift coral stands I just had to make for the tank I'm slowly closing out. Given the aquascape, it'll be hard to find a good position within the tank, but it can be done. Perhaps I'll try that and see how they react to one another.

How long would you suggest I keep the eggcrate in the tank? What's a reasonable socialization timeframe, or should I just play it by ear??

I have some time, I'm only on my first transfer of 4, so I can rig something while I'm waiting for TTM to be over.

I might have issues with my purple Tang too. He is such an ****** and hasn't been kind or chummy with any of the inhabitants. I hadn't wanted to put him in before the others, but he'd been in QT for 3 months and I really just couldn't keep him there any longer. I'd torn down my 55g QT and he was in a 20g for the last few weeks of that 3-month period. Even as a juvenile, he needed more room than that!

 

[CanadianReefer]

One more option you have is your sump.
Anyways you are smart and know your stuff I hope you do the right thing.

Unfortunately my sump could only be a temporary home for a fish that size. It's an 80g, but it's compartmentalized, so the biggest space I have for fish in there is 24x12. A small fish wouldn't be an issue, but for a foxface, it would be torture.

I may contemplate putting one of the clowns in there, though. Actually, that may be a really good idea. 3 clowns in a tank is simply doomed to fail, but they are small enough that one could become King of the sump. That particular slot will only have LR rubble in it anyway, so no equipment to interfere with the fish.

 

[CanadianReefer]

Okay. It's done. So far, so good! The two foxface haven't displayed any aggression towards one another. The purple Tang chased him only once that I saw but is largely leaving him alone. Cross your fingers for me!!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Keep us posted. Glad it's working so far!