One spot foxface a bad idea ?

[Idech]

My tank is 75 gallons and has a low bioload. I really like the one spot foxface and would love to have one. I’ve been reading a lot and watching videos and it’s pretty much 50/50 : some say no way or just temporarily, some say okay.

I set a tape measurer at 7 inches, placed it against the tank and imagined a fish that size in there. It feels tight for the imaginary fish.

So that leaves me with one option : rehoming if and when it becomes too big and uncomfortable in the tank.

My question : how hard is it to catch this fish ? Is it realistic to make this temporary rehoming plan without having to tear the tank apart to catch the fish?

Thanks !

 

[thomas_neil]

I have a fox face in my 75. Do you plan on up grading to a larger tank in the future?

If you get a small one, mine is maybe 2", it will take a few years to fully grow. If you plan on upgrading, then it shouldn't be an issue. If you don't, catching it shouldn't be a problem. They are pretty timid fish but mine loves nori and will do anything to get it. I caught him in about 30 min with a fish trap and nori.

 

[thomas_neil]

I have a fox face in my 75. Do you plan on up grading to a larger tank in the future?

If you get a small one, mine is maybe 2", it will take a few years to fully grow. If you plan on upgrading, then it shouldn't be an issue. If you don't, catching it shouldn't be a problem. They are pretty timid fish but mine loves nori and will do anything to get it. I caught him in about 30 min with a fish trap and nori.

Forgot to ask, what's current fish stock list?

 

[Tnops]

I have my foxface in a 75 gallon too, currently around 4 inches. Had em there for almost a year it feels like, it has grown for sure but not substantially. Whenever I see it, 75% of the time it is just using one side of the tank. It is active but seems to just swim around that area. I would say it would be fine for a relatively long time and once (if) it feels out of place, replacing it would be fine, they aren't that hard to catch. They freak out and go into the corners when you chase them out of the rocks with a net (don't use your hands, got toxic spines)

 

[Idech]

Do you plan on up grading to a larger tank in the future?

No, I will never upgrade. I am getting old and weak. :)

Forgot to ask, what's current fish stock list?

1 x blue eye kole tang
1 x banggai cardinal
1 x pajama cardinal
1 x yellow watchman goby
1 x firefish
2 x oscellaris clownfish

And lots of different snails, hermit crabs, different shrimps, emerald crab.

 

[thomas_neil]

No, I will never upgrade. I am getting old and weak. :)


1 x blue eye kole tang
1 x banggai cardinal
1 x pajama cardinal
1 x yellow watchman goby
1 x firefish
2 x oscellaris clownfish

And lots of different snails, hermit crabs, different shrimps, emerald crab.

If you're okay with a rehome I'd go for it. Just get him hooked on nori and get a NYOS trap, should be pretty easy to catch. But thats a future you problem ;)

 

[Tnops]

No, I will never upgrade. I am getting old and weak. :)


1 x blue eye kole tang
1 x banggai cardinal
1 x pajama cardinal
1 x yellow watchman goby
1 x firefish
2 x oscellaris clownfish

And lots of different snails, hermit crabs, different shrimps, emerald crab.

the kole tang might be a problem... heard of tangs attacking other algae eaters even lawnmower blennies because they share the same food source. Add that with the foxface's shape and it may get ugly. Speculative though as I have never kept a kole tang with a foxface

 

[Idech]

the kole tang might be a problem... heard of tangs attacking other algae eaters even lawnmower blennies because they share the same food source. Add that with the foxface's shape and it may get ugly. Speculative though as I have never kept a kole tang with a foxface

Okay, I’ll research that. Thanks.

 

[boacvh]

As long as you have proper filtration and enough hiding spots he will be perfectly fine. In my experience, the tang finds out pretty soon not to mess with a foxface once those spines go up.
Here is mine on my 75.
5 years.

 

[jda]

These fish grow fast and can get quite large in a 75g. I am usually of the belief that if you always act in the best interest of the fish and will give them away FOR FREE to the best home when the time is right, then you can be a good steward for a while.

If you are the type of person who needs paid to reclaim some of your investment in a fish and otherwise could make a choice that is in your best interest instead of the fish, then I would pass on any fish that could outgrow your tank.

If you are anywhere near a big city, then there are usually folks with maintenance accounts with larger tanks at shops, restaurants, etc. that will always give good homes to larger fish. I have had good luck with these and have seen some of my larger fish at the Children's Hospital, McDonals with a huge tank, etc.

 

[Idech]

If you are the type of person who needs paid to reclaim some of your investment in a fish and otherwise could make a choice that is in your best interest instead of the fish, then I would pass on any fish that could outgrow your tank.

No, the animal always comes first for me. The fish I couldn’t keep I brought back to the LFS and their policy was to not give a penny for them.

So giving away won’t be a problem. My only concern is catching the fish when the time comes, if I have to rehome it.

 

[nereefpat]

I agree with a 75 being borderline for them. They can get big, and they grow fast. But they aren't as active as most tangs.

Catching them isn't a picnic, due to the spines.

 

[Baldguy]

I have a one spot in a 4ft 120g. Biggest fish in the tank. At 6", to my eye, he's a bit large for the tank. At this point I'd rather have two or three smaller fish than one big un.

 

[Idech]

I have a one spot in a 4ft 120g. Biggest fish in the tank. At 6", to my eye, he's a bit large for the tank. At this point I'd rather have two or three smaller fish than one big un.

That’s part of my reflexion right now. Either just this one or 2-3 more.

 

[Nemo&Friends]

How long is your tank? If it is 4 feet long, probably ok, 3 feet i would not do it.

 

[Idech]

How long is your tank? If it is 4 feet long, probably ok, 3 feet i would not do it.

4 feet long.

 

[Nemo&Friends]

my foxface was in a 4 feet long before, when i upgraded, he was still pacing 4 feet back and forth for a while, but then when he discovered he could actually swim 2 more feet, you could almost feel his excitement.
I do not think they are hard to catch, just do not touch them, as they are very mild temper.
Only tang with him is an hippo, and they get along fine, but the hippo was the last fish I added.

 

[Idech]

After a lot of thinking and not being able to get this fish out of my head, I took the plunge and got one !

He is really skinny so I’m hoping he likes the algae in the tank. Right now after swimming around a little bit, he is hiding in the rocks and won’t come out. I was really pleased to see he did not even acknowledge the kole tang charging at him. Once or twice it turned around and showed its spines. Kole tang now avoids it !

 

[i cant think]

After a lot of thinking and not being able to get this fish out of my head, I took the plunge and got one !

He is really skinny so I’m hoping he likes the algae in the tank. Right now after swimming around a little bit, he is hiding in the rocks and won’t come out. I was really pleased to see he did not even acknowledge the kole tang charging at him. Once or twice it turned around and showed its spines. Kole tang now avoids it !

Youve got a really nice sized foxface, I had the choice between two when I picked mine and I obviously went for the larger one as it was ‘more impressive’ (I had a smaller one for 4 years but lost him during the upgrade). I wish I went for the smaller of the two as they’re adorable when babies.

 

[Idech]

This fish is either really weird or ill. Last night it lied on the ground to sleep, in full stress colors. I thought it was going to die during the night.

This morning before lights are on I find it floating at the surface, in a corner. I thought it was dead. I gently touched it and it started swimming slowly along the side glass. I fed it but I don’t think it ate.

Then for a good 20 minutes it followed the pajama cardinal around like a puppy. Now it’s back in the corner, at the surface. Oops, back with his friend the cardinal !

I have no experience with these fish so this might be normal but it sure is worrisome !