Foxface vs Tang space requirements.

Dave Cureton · Jan 20, 2022

Magnificent Foxface is one of my favorite fish but I can't say I have had the same experience as others here. I got rid one a while back because it was harassing a female Bellus angelfish. Also they have been known to eat Zoas from time to time. My 2 cents from 15 years of reefing. All that said I plan to try a Mag Foxface again when I setup my new tank.

LeftyReefer · Jan 20, 2022

I vote Tomini tang over FoxFace. lol

I was recently looking at getting a foxface for algae cleanup and ultimately decided on a tomini tang instead.
no regrets.

The tomini tang grows slow, and stays smaller than any foxface. compared to most tangs, a tomini is not a big swimmer and doesn't need a lot of swimming room or even a big tank. My tomini spends all day picking/grazing rockwork. I've never seen it pace or swim back and forth, ever. and above all, it gets along great with all my fish. no aggression at all. Tomini's don't even have the typical caudal spine/spike at the base of the tail like most tangs, so they have no weapons either. Very nice, peaceful, utility fish.

Saying that, I still like foxfaces and will probably end up getting one at some point too. haha.

Dbichler · Jan 20, 2022

Always have a spot for a foxface and always have room for a bristletooth. Neither bother any other fish but could be because I have other bigger bullies. Foxface won’t bully any other fish though.

Nemo&Friends · Mar 9, 2022

My foxface (on my avatar) eats all kind of algae, is peaceful and swims all over the entire tank. Mine was very small and grew quite fast when very young, then its growth slowed down. He Is very easy to take care off. At first I was scared to put my hands in the tank, but I realised that he is not aggressive at all and now I am quite confortable puting my hand in. He comes close to my scrapper when I clean the tank and catches all the little piece of algae being scrapped of the glass. I feed him Nori daily.

Zionas · Mar 9, 2022

That’s really cute. How long have you had him and how big is he?

Nemo&Friends · Mar 10, 2022

Zionas said:
That’s really cute. How long have you had him and how big is he?

He/she is around 6 or 7 inches. It is the biggest fish in my tank. I have him for probably 5 or 6 years.
the second biggest fish is a hippo tang (Dory) I have for 2 years. It must be 5 or 6 inches. That one is starting to show he wants to be the boss. It was so small and skittish before, but now his attitude is changing. Not aggressive, but does not let the other fish push him around, and sometimes even make them go out of his way.
My tank is 125 G, but it is long and narrow, so 72"x18".