Foxface pacing the glass

RippinReefs · Sep 7, 2025

I have a 4” foxface that always paces the corner of a 62 gallon Tideline. The tank is 48” long. The other tank mates are a juvenile snowflake eel and a multi colored angel. All my fish have gone through quarantine. Parameters are fine, nitrates 8ppm phosphates .07ppm, no nitrites or ammonia. The tank was was started in June, with seeded media from another established tank I have. I feed frozen twice a day and a half sheet of nori, daily. The fox face was originally in my 90gallon (36”L 24”D 24” T), but I swear I saw him eating zoas, I panicked and put him into the tank with the eel. Long story short, it’s not eating corals in the Tideline. The angel was an addition, later. The fox face cruised the whole tank in the 90 gallon, never paced the glass and was cool to everyone in the tank. I’ve had him in the Tideline tank for about 6weeks and its demeanor has totally changed. It now acts timid, doesn’t really pick at the rock work, paces the left panel and generally stays on the left side of the tank. I’m thinking it’s stressed because of space? Or maybe it’s scared of the eel? It has eaten a small wrasse before. The angel fish acts fine in my opinion. I’m thinking of fishing it out back into the 90, but I’m not sure my yellow tang would love that idea. Any thoughts? Should I move it back? Rehome it? First picture is the Tideline 62 and the second is my 90 gallon plant aquarium. Thanks and happy reefing

Kmst80 · Sep 7, 2025

I got a magnificent foxface that is about 15 cm long in a 200 gallon tank. Every now and then he glass surfs the tank and he's every now and then on the surface blowing bubbles. The only other fish that bothers him is the purple tang, those two have a stand off every now and then. But my tank is loaded with live rock, so he's got plenty of hiding spaces.
In your case and in my opinion that 62 is to small for him and even the 90 will be tiny considering the size foxfaces can become.
I would rehome him back to the 90 and add more rock for hiding places. A fish that feels safe won't hide long in the rocks.

RippinReefs · Sep 7, 2025

Kmst80 said:
I got a magnificent foxface that is about 15 cm long in a 200 gallon tank. Every now and then he glass surfs the tank and he's every now and then on the surface blowing bubbles. The only other fish that bothers him is the purple tang, those two have a stand off every now and then. But my tank is loaded with live rock, so he's got plenty of hiding spaces.
In your case and in my opinion that 62 is to small for him and even the 90 will be tiny considering the size foxfaces can become.
I would rehome him back to the 90 and add more rock for hiding places. A fish that feels safe won't hide long in the rocks.

I agree it could outgrow the bigger tank eventually, as well. An online vendor mixed up an order and it was sent to me by mistake and I’m doing my best to be fair to it. I appreciate your input!