Fox Face

[thall17]

Would love to get a Fox Face. The venomous spines have me concerned. 75 gallon tank. Have you gotten stung? Am I being a sissy? Hands are in the tank to clean and place coral often….

 

[NanoSteam]

I'm also terrified and want one lol. Knowing my luck I would be the one R2R member not paying attention and get stabbed.

I've been handling palythoad and Zoa's bare hands and no PPE for 20+ years before I found out how dangerous they are yet the fox face terrifies me.

I'm sure it's a non issue though.

 

[X-37B]

Mine would take food from my fingers.
They get big fast.
I rehomed after 1 year in my old 120.

 

[edsbeaker]

Hi,
I wouldn’t say you’re a sissy, it’s a concern, but a reef tank has many dangers that are much more common than a sting from a fox face. I once cut myself on the rocks and got a nasty infection that resulted in 3 days in the hospital. Even a clownfish can give you a nasty bite. All things considered, I don’t worry much about my fox face.

 

[DarthRaiderBob]

Have had my foxface going on 3 years now. Wife and I have both been bitten by a porcupine puffer, stabbed by a long spine sea urchin bitten by clownfish. Foxface is never a concern unless moving to another tank or transporting.

 

[Asm481]

Foxface spines are more a concern if they're netted. They can get tangled up. Get the one spot, they are a bit smaller and grow fairly slow. I have always had foxes and not a bit concerned. They do flare a bit while establishing their rank in the tank.

 

[Idech]

Honestly a 75 gallons is too small for them. I have a 110 gallons and rehomed mine. It was so bored, poor thing. They need swimming space.

 

[W31Olds]

Foxfaces are big scaredy- cats and not likely to sting. Mine is large (6") and is the first fish to hide when I'm doing maintenance. My Hippo is far more aggressive (Tail Swipes) and my small Royal Gramma will attack also.

 

[Waters]

You just have to be careful.....don't go blindly grabbing behind rock without knowing where the fish is. Biggest chance of being stung is when they are startled and shooting around the tank. Mine has brushed against my hand many times while cleaning without any issues. That being said, I agree that a 75 is too small long term for one. My one spot looks big in my 180 lol.

 

[Mark Goode]

If you put a hand in your tank, your foxface will hide. Stings are unlikely to be a problem (I don't even think about after 3 years with a foxface).

 

[get-salty]

Hi hello.

I have a magnificent and its very skittish. However, mines an open swimmer and LOVES nori - itll tear up a whole sheet easy. I've had two one spotted in the past and nvr had any problem them stabbing me. I am more afraid of clowns more than anything lol.
Get one spot ff , the magnificent ara a tad bigger in general. Also, they are hard to net bc of their spine - itll get caught up in the net.

But yea, absolutely zero concern about the spine. Like other have mentioned, there are other things in a saltwater aquarium that is way more dangerous. I've picked up a rock and got stabbed by vermetid snail and got bit by bristle worm, and let me tell you.. hurt for days !

Cheers from Texas

 

[Dr. D]

+1. My foxface is a big scaredy cat.

 

[Fishels]

Just to add a thought, I strongly recommend against hand feeding your fox face. Why do I say that? I remember someone a long time ago on an older forum saying there’s had become friendly and accustomed to hands in the tank. And hands meant food to the fish so it would hang around him constantly while he was cleaning.

Other than that though a Foxface will not sting you unless you grab it. It’s important to keep an eye on it all times but mine was very shy and we never came close to it touching us.