Fox face reef compatibility

michael.cser20 · Dec 6, 2016

I have a 75 gallon reef tank with mostly all sps frags and I have a mean pair of adult clowns, a yellow coris wrasse and 2 pajama cardinals. Will a fox face fit in without being harassed by my clowns.

alyee5 · Dec 6, 2016

I have 2 Clarkii clowns and they do get territorial and nippy with my fox face especially at feeding time. The fox face doesn't seem too stressed to me. He flares his spines and points it at the clowns when he want to stand its ground, but the 3 seem to huddle together when not out swimming in the open. I have a 100 gallon tank.

Salty1962 · Dec 6, 2016

One should be ok. If the Clowns go after it, they won't for very long. Spines are venomous.:confused: My Flame Tang went after mine for a while until he got stung a couple of times.:eek:Now everyone gives him/her plenty of room! I have the Fox Face Lo.

michael.cser20 · Dec 6, 2016

Salty1962 said:
One should be ok. If the Clowns go after it, they won't for very long. Spines are venomous.:confused: My Flame Tang went after mine for a while until he got stung a couple of times.:eek:Now everyone gives him/her plenty of room! I have the Fox Face Lo.

They don't go after your coral do they?

alyee5 · Dec 6, 2016

I have a Duncan, hammer and a bunch of acan frags. So far my Foxface has only nipped at the algae on the frag plug of my corals. Mileage may vary from what I read before purchasing one.

Salty1962 · Dec 6, 2016

michael.cser20 said:
They don't go after your coral do they?

Not at all, just algae.

michael.cser20 · Dec 6, 2016

alyee5 said:
I have a Duncan, hammer and a bunch of acan frags. So far my Foxface has only nipped at the algae on the frag plug of my corals. Mileage may vary from what I read before purchasing one.

That's good to know I think I'll get one

Deinonych · Dec 6, 2016

Tank is a bit on the small side, but you could do a One-Spot Foxface (Siganus unimaculatus) as they only get to 6-7" in captivity. I have mostly SPS (Montipora, Pocillopora, Porites, Acropora) and my FF never touches them. Does a great job keeping the rocks free of algae.

michael.cser20 · Dec 6, 2016

Deinonych said:
Tank is a bit on the small side, but you could do a One-Spot Foxface (Siganus unimaculatus) as they only get to 6-7" in captivity. I have mostly SPS (Montipora, Pocillopora, Porites, Acropora) and my FF never touches them. Does a great job keeping the rocks free of algae.

Do you use any kind of glove when your hand is in the tank to prevent getting stabbed from the fins

alyee5 · Dec 6, 2016

I use these...

AlexG · Dec 7, 2016

I have always found that Fox Face do well in reef tanks. The only time I have heard of them going after corals is when they are starving or underfed. I never have had issues with being stung by one before. When I worked at a LFS we used to have tanks with several fox face and putting your hands in the tank was never an issue. Like anything else always be cautious if they are cornered and have nowhere to run it will increase the risk of being accidentally stung.