Got a new Foxface and he's not looking so good

[The.Shrimp]

yesterday, I bought a foxface and a Midas blenny and both are discolored but my foxface is hiding in rocks, the floor, and is still extremely discolored what are my options to save it?

 

[bubbgee]

Turn the lights down and let it acclimate. It will eat seaweed and mysis.
Does your tank have a lot of algae to graze on?

My foxface was like this for a few weeks and then adjusted and is happy and fat now.

 

[The.Shrimp]

Turn the lights down and let it acclimate. It will eat seaweed and mysis.
Does your tank have a lot of algae to graze on?

My foxface was like this for a few weeks and then adjusted and is happy and fat now.

no, it's a new tank and it seems he's been eating he hasn't eaten any mysis but when I got to the office the seaweed was down to the clip. how much seaweed should I feed him? I've been feeding him one long strip ripped in half.

 

[bluemon]

This is what foxfaces do. Their coloration based on mood/time of day is EXTREME. More so than other fish. It will settle down to its happy color once settled in

 

[bubbgee]

no, it's a new tank and it seems he's been eating he hasn't eaten any mysis but when I got to the office the seaweed was down to the clip. how much seaweed should I feed him? I've been feeding him one long strip ripped in half.

Does it eat the seaweed? How long since the tank has cycled?

I feed mine at least 4 to 5 times a day rotating flakes, mysis cube, pellets and a nori strip. But I have more fishes though. How many fish along with it?

 

[The.Shrimp]

This is what foxfaces do. Their coloration based on mood/time of day is EXTREME. More so than other fish. It will settle down to its happy color once settled in

are you sure? there's a bit of red at the pectoral fins but it is my first time having one

Does it eat the seaweed? How long since the tank has cycled?

I feed mine at least 4 to 5 times a day rotating flakes, mysis cube, pellets and a nori strip. But I have more fishes though. How many fish along with it?

yeah, I think it ate all of the nori I gave it. I started cycling in may left it untouched for all of june and now I'm putting more stuff in I have the Midas, and a watchman goby and the goby's been in there for like 2-3 weeks at this point

 

[bluemon]

are you sure? there's a bit of red at the pectoral fins but it is my first time having one


yeah, I think it ate all of the nori I gave it. I started cycling in may left it untouched for all of june and now I'm putting more stuff in I have the Midas, and a watchman goby and the goby's been in there for like 2-3 weeks at this point

Do you have a better picture of the red spot?

I don't see it in any of the pictures, could be just a minor scrape

What other fish do you have in the tank? What is the tank size, and what are its basic parameters?

 

[bubbgee]

Do you have a better picture of the red spot?

I don't see it in any of the pictures, could be just a minor scrape

What other fish do you have in the tank? What is the tank size, and what are its basic parameters?

This plus how did you acclimate? You need to ensure the temp and salinity in the bag and tank are the same before adding. What's the salinity currently?

 

[JumboShrimp]

I can't see your photo-- but the Foxface I had for several years was scared of his own shadow-- and 90% of the time looked like a bruised banana (i.e., frequently camouflaged.)

 

[The.Shrimp]

Do you have a better picture of the red spot?

I don't see it in any of the pictures, could be just a minor scrape

What other fish do you have in the tank? What is the tank size, and what are its basic parameters?

This picture is the best I can do currently since he moved to hide under the rocks I have a watchman, the midas, and the foxface itselfit's a 200g and I'm unsure since I need to do a 10% water change tomorrow.

 

[bluemon]

Do you mean the pink at the base of the pectoral fins?

I believe that's normal "flesh" coloration especially when the pigments have been "scared" out of the foxface.

I would give it a couple days to get familiar with the tank

 

[The.Shrimp]

This plus how did you acclimate? You need to ensure the temp and salinity in the bag and tank are the same before adding. What's the salinity currently?

I floated the bag for 20 minutes and then put him in a bucket and drip acclimated him for another 30 I believe this was not long enough I am doing my water change tomorrow so I will know then

 

[JumboShrimp]

OUCH! That does not look good.

 

[DarkReefer]

Yeah foxfaces will do that. They freak out and change colours and have a panic attack. Mine still does on the odd occasion if there's something new that goes in the tank (like a new cleaning tool or something), he'll freak out, change colour and hide somewhere huffing and puffing. A couple minutes or hours later he's usually back to normal.
Just let it settle in, maybe turn the lights down a bit for a while, let it keep eating. Eventually it'll adjust.
Mine has become such a fatty and will even come up to me and take seaweed from my hand. Mine loves anything I throw in the tank, seaweed, mysis, brine, mussels, bloodworm & even pellets. It's a bit of a guts.
Give it some time to settle in, maybe keep topping up the seaweed (possible it's eating it when you're away from the tank).

Wish you success!

 

[bubbgee]

I floated the bag for 20 minutes and then put him in a bucket and drip acclimated him for another 30 I believe this was not long enough I am doing my water change tomorrow so I will know then

Do test the water first for salinity. Might be in shock if the bag and tank salinity is wildly different.

 

[bluemon]

I floated the bag for 20 minutes and then put him in a bucket and drip acclimated him for another 30 I believe this was not long enough I am doing my water change tomorrow so I will know then

That sounds fine.

Depending on where you got the fish, sometimes it's even better to just temp acclimate and move them from bag to the tank immediately. (primarily online with longer shipping time)

 

[Techie_]

I floated the bag for 20 minutes and then put him in a bucket and drip acclimated him for another 30 I believe this was not long enough I am doing my water change tomorrow so I will know then

You're totally fine here, I temp acclimate for 20mins + add a little water every 5 mins, empty the bag a little and repeat. Some even call that overkill. I like to keep the time in the bag from the LFS to my tank under an hour; I'm a freak though.

On topic, I noticed that you said this is a new tank. What are you water parameters? When was the last time you tested?

 

[vetteguy53081]

yesterday, I bought a foxface and a Midas blenny and both are discolored but my foxface is hiding in rocks, the floor, and is still extremely discolored what are my options to save it?

These are stress spots and not unusual when new to a tank. Lower white light intensity for a couple of days

 

[The.Shrimp]

These are stress spots and not unusual when new to a tank. Lower white light intensity for a couple of days

I don't have lights installed into the tank just yet that's natural light connected to the main room of an office space should I put like a tarp or something over the tank for the time being to help him settle in?

 

[bluemon]

I don't have lights installed into the tank just yet that's natural light connected to the main room of an office space should I put like a tarp or something over the tank for the time being to help him settle in?

no this should be good enough. pitch black darkness won't be too helpful either.

Just. give. it. time.

I think you're trying to rush things and freaking out. Just let it relax for a second.