Powder Brown and Foxface?

Waters · May 6, 2020

I am looking to add a One Spot to a reef with a Powder Brown. I know they will complete for food.....I also know the Foxface has defense. The Powder Brown has been fine with all other fish except for a Pajama Cardinal that he went rogue on out of the blue. Should I go with a Flame Hawkfish and play it safe or is the Foxface a possibility? I only have 4 other fish in the tank, all being small wrasses or clowns. It is a 130 gallon system. I am trying to avoid an angry tank again lol.

Silentdeath5 · May 6, 2020

You can’t go wrong with a flame hawk any day! Lol

november290 · May 6, 2020

I have this exact combo in my tank and never had an issue, should be fine.

Waters · May 6, 2020

Ok......thanks for the replies..... @november290 did you add the Foxface after the tang by chance?

november290 · May 6, 2020

Yes I did, the powder brown went in with my first set of fish from quarantine back when my 185 was done cycling. He was the only tang for about a month and a half. The fox face was part of my second wave in. Although for full disclosure a purple tang also went in at the same time. I suspect this was a positive for the fox face. The powder brown was much more concerned about the purple tang. Also the fox face was extremely small back then so I don’t think he was viewed as any threat. I always add fish in groups to reduce the chances of any one fish being singled out for aggression. If you can’t do this I recommend you use an acclimation box and leave the fox face in it in the tank for several days. Feed the powder brown plenty of nori sheets during this time. This will give the other fish plenty of time to get used to the new arrival. Wait until your lights are out and let the fox face out. Powder browns and blues for that matter are usually ok with everything else but other tangs so I think it will be fine. Especially if you take the steps described above. My powder brown, purple tang, blue hippo tang and fox face are all fat happy and healthy and no aggression after the first day or so. Good luck!

Auquanut · May 6, 2020

You could do both in a tank that size. I have a one spot FF and flame hawk in my 125 with 3 tangs. I don't have a powder brown though. If I remember right, the FF came after the yellow and the kole, and before the hippo. There was a little jockeying for position initially, but no real aggression and no damage to any of the fish. Of course there are no guarantees. Then there's also the utilitarian aspect. The FF is great for algae control (especially bubble algae), while the FH is good for pest management.

november290 · May 6, 2020

Agree, why debate between the two? You could support both with your setup. If introduced at the same time it would reduce the chances of aggression as well!

Waters · May 6, 2020

Thanks everyone.....I am going to add both as soon as I can find them online. This is slightly off topic, but in my original post I mentioned that the Powder Brown went rogue and tore up a Pajama without showing any prior aggression. The Pajama has been hiding in a hole in the rock for over a week, with the Tang keeping him pinned in there. Today, for whatever reason, they are swimming side by side like nothing ever happened. I have never seen that level of aggression come and go like that before...really strange.

Silentdeath5 · May 6, 2020

That’s tangs for you lol

Auquanut · May 6, 2020

Waters said:
I have never seen that level of aggression come and go like that before...really strange.

Often, aggression will subside over time as the fish get used to each other. To have the tang go from lion to lamb overnight is really weird though. If I were you, I would have a little talk with the cardinal about not turning it's back on the tang.

Waters · May 6, 2020

Auquanut said:
Often, aggression will subside over time as the fish get used to each other. To have the tang go from lion to lamb overnight is really weird though. If I were you, I would have a little talk with the cardinal about not turning it's back on the tang.

I am starting to think the Cardinal got some friends to back him up or something

The strange part is the Tang snapped after being with the Cardinal for a couple of months....without any signs of aggression. Hopefully they continue to get along....I have been trying to figure out how to get him out before the Tang totally destroyed him.

sreefs · May 6, 2020

In my experience with a powder blue once he turns on another fish he doesn't stop until I trap and remove the other fish or he kills it! Even with larger tanks, they can turn on a dime friends today mortal enemies tomorrow.

Waters · May 7, 2020

sreefs said:
In my experience with a powder blue once he turns on another fish he doesn't stop until I trap and remove the other fish or he kills it! Even with larger tanks, they can turn on a dime friends today mortal enemies tomorrow.

I know the Blues can be more aggressive....that was the main reason I went with a Powder Brown.

sreefs · May 7, 2020

I have seen Powder Browns that got very very aggressive, it all depends on the individual fish! IME
Is the tank 6 foot long? I know these tangs love a lot of flow to swim into!