Rabbitfish

Huskymaniac · May 28, 2019

After 45 days in QT finally added an Orange Spot on Saturday. Hands down this is the worst fish I have ever owned. I have to think of a way to catch it on a 180. It just sits there under an overhang breathing rapidly. If you look at it the wrong way it just goes straight camo. I heard they can be skittish but this is just awful.

dhuynh · May 28, 2019

It takes time. Mine took weeks to start swimming with the packs. Try putting nori clips on the front glass to encourage him to come out and eat.

Huskymaniac · May 28, 2019

dhuynh said:
It takes time. Mine took weeks to start swimming with the packs. Try putting nori clips on the front glass to encourage him to come out and eat.

It's actually eating no problem. Takes down a full strip. Eats and goes right back to its cave

azbigjohn · May 28, 2019

I had an orange spot I loved, but they do change colors (pale out) any time they are startled or something moves quickly. Didn't seem to have any health relationship...

Dlealrious · May 28, 2019

My magnificent foxface took months to come and out swim when i was in the room. Once i re-scaped tank though it is out all the time.

Huskymaniac · May 28, 2019

I dont know. The rapid breathing has me concerned a bit. I guess it can be stress related. I did prophylacticly treat with copper for 30 days

Maacc · May 28, 2019

I would advise giving it a few weeks. Mine took about 2 1/2 to not show stress colors and not to be skiddish. Now he's out with a great personality. I have a 187.

dhuynh · May 28, 2019

Huskymaniac said:
I dont know. The rapid breathing has me concerned a bit. I guess it can be stress related. I did prophylacticly treat with copper for 30 days

Copper is very toxic. My fish did the same thing even at half dose... after a couple of weeks in a coppeefree system, they recovered. Give it time.

Huskymaniac · Jun 14, 2019

Figured I would update this post. The fish still sucks, lol. Spends all day hiding and breathing rapidly. Eats 2 sheets of nori and is a slob when eating. I am going to redo the rock work on half my tank to open things up a bit. If that doesnt do the trick I am going to return to the lfs.

nereefpat · Jun 14, 2019

Bummer.

Was the rapid breathing happening in QT? Do you suspect flukes or anything?

I had a S. virgatus for a while that was ALWAYS in "brown" mode....I got rid of it too.

Terry Brown · Jun 14, 2019

My rabbit fish hid most of the time for about the 1st 2-3 months. They can be skittish at first but I would give him some time.
Mine now swims with the Green Chromis school I have and is very friendly. He even comes to the surface of the tank and lets me feed him.

Huskymaniac · Jun 14, 2019

nereefpat said:
Bummer.

Was the rapid breathing happening in QT? Do you suspect flukes or anything?

I had a S. virgatus for a while that was ALWAYS in "brown" mode....I got rid of it too.

It acted the same in QT. Dont think it's flukes or any disease. I think the rapid breathing is stress related. When the fish swims the breathing is actual normal. It's just really fast when its hovering. Has to be stress related.

Huskymaniac · Jun 14, 2019

Terry Brown said:
My rabbit fish hid most of the time for about the 1st 2-3 months. They can be skittish at first but I would give him some time.
Mine now swims with the Green Chromis school I have and is very friendly. He even comes to the surface of the tank and lets me feed him.

I hope your right. Also hoping opening the tank up a bit will make it feel more comfortable.

sfin52 · Jun 14, 2019

my Mel wrasse his for three weeks and about five for it to swim when I was next to the tank. My yellow watchman took 8 weeks for it to show itself. My blackspot foxface fave took almost a month to swim out in the open

Huskymaniac said:
Figured I would update this post. The fish still sucks, lol. Spends all day hiding and breathing rapidly. Eats 2 sheets of nori and is a slob when eating. I am going to redo the rock work on half my tank to open things up a bit. If that doesnt do the trick I am going to return to the lfs.

Goodair · Jun 14, 2019

My rabbit would swim around until I put a marine beta in. Now he hides with the beta and goes to sleep when the beta comes out when lights dim...lol. I know the feeling and hope he goes back to being less scared.