What corals will a non-reefsafe foxface eat?

CenlaReefer · Aug 27, 2016

I am ordering a one spot foxface for my 75 gallon display tank. I know it is hit or miss to determine if the the fish is reef safe or not. In the case that this fish gets a taste for corals, what sort of corals will it eat? LPS, SPS, and softies? From my limited experience, fish that are not reef safe seem to go for LPS corals.

Lionfish Lair · Aug 27, 2016

He may taste everything and like different ones. Mine even ate newspaper (don't ask).

azbigjohn · Aug 27, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
He may taste everything and like different ones. Mine even ate newspaper (don't ask).

It's not that easy!!! Sometimes, you just have to know... Why was newspaper in your tank? Did it think it was algae...

It's my brain, I can't help it...

azbigjohn · Aug 27, 2016

For what it is worth, I had a one-spot foxface, and it was a model citizen, however I had a hair algae problem, so it was always well fed...

Lionfish Lair · Aug 27, 2016

I was using a baster in the tank and didn't realize newspaper has stuck to it. When I put the baster in the tank, the newspaper came off and he ate it.... like went back for more ate it. Mine did not kill any coral, but he sampled many. I had him for a looooooong time and he died within an hour of me coming come from a 3 week honeymoon in Canada. So sad.

CenlaReefer · Aug 27, 2016

From what I understand, they have a tremendous appetite and will eat almost anything if hungry enough. I hear it is important to ensure they are well fed.

CodyRVA · Aug 27, 2016

Eye Candy Corals said:
From what I understand, they have a tremendous appetite and will eat almost anything if hungry enough. I hear it is important to ensure they are well fed.

Nailed it. I have a one spot and he doesn't touch any corals, but I feed him aggressively. His sides are always nice and plump. It's amazing how much food/algae these guys can go through. Adding in somethings else like a tang and you really have to feed heavy.

Lionfish Lair · Aug 27, 2016

I fed mine with a baster so ensure he was nice and fat... he still tasted everything.

Side note: Don't hand feed your Foxface. It makes working on the tank impossible. They will always be up in your business. Lesson learned, I guess. :-/

Waters · Aug 27, 2016

Mine had to be removed due to LPS picking...mainly the fleshy varieties.

CenlaReefer · Aug 28, 2016

I really appreciate everyone's input! This is very helpful.

I was told this fish will go after both LPS and zoas. If needed, I can easily move both my LPS and zoas colonies to another tank. I am planning on tying-in a 20 gallon long frag system into my 75 gallon display and sump. What do you all think about a one spot foxface eating much of my SPS corals? Most of those cannot be removed. Anyone have experience with this fish eating SPS corals in a significant manner more than a nip here and there? To be on the safe side, I will some of my precious SPS corals (or at least frags of the colonies) into the 20 gallon system. The fish may be perfectly reef safe and all this concern is for nothing; however, I trying to be prepared for the worse case scenario.

CodyRVA · Aug 28, 2016

Eye Candy Corals said:
I really appreciate everyone's input! This is very helpful.

I was told this fish will go after both LPS and zoas. If needed, I can easily move both my LPS and zoas colonies to another tank. I am planning on tying-in a 20 gallon long frag system into my 75 gallon display and sump. What do you all think about a one spot foxface eating much of my SPS corals? Most of those cannot be removed. Anyone have experience with this fish eating SPS corals in a significant manner more than a nip here and there? To be on the safe side, I will some of my precious SPS corals (or at least frags of the colonies) into the 20 gallon system. The fish may be perfectly reef safe and all this concern is for nothing; however, I trying to be prepared for the worse case scenario.

If I were you, I would feed heavy to start, but not to the extent of creating issues. See what the fish does. Even if it nips, it's not gonna wipe anything out. I would act accordingly once you judge the behavior. You might end up doing a lot of moving around for nothing. Just my two cents, good luck!

eatbreakfast · Aug 29, 2016

The nippy foxfaces I have dealt with were safe with sps. Though I would be cautious with newly cur pieces or ones that are struggling for some reason.

DRoth335 · Aug 29, 2016

We have a one-spot in an sps dominant and (as stated above) no issues. We have a magnificent in a mixed reef and also no issues. Several years ago, we had a one spot in a mixed reef and xenia was the only coral that it occasionally sampled.

CodyRVA · Aug 29, 2016

DRoth335 said:
Several years ago, we had a one spot in a mixed reef and xenia was the only coral that it occasionally sampled.

Wish I was so lucky!

CenlaReefer · Aug 29, 2016

CodyRVA said:
If I were you, I would feed heavy to start, but not to the extent of creating issues. See what the fish does. Even if it nips, it's not gonna wipe anything out. I would act accordingly once you judge the behavior. You might end up doing a lot of moving around for nothing. Just my two cents, good luck!

Good advice Cody. Thanks also to everyone for the very helpful input!

Bpb · Aug 30, 2016

Keep him fed and he should be fine. I've had a large one spot foxface for years and the only coral he ever picked at (and this was literally just once or twice. Spit it out immediately) was a green Palau nepthelia leather coral. He's currently in a mixed 90 gallon with equal parts Zoas, lps, and sps/clams. Never touches coral. Ever. Constantly picking the rocks of algae (LOVES all nuisance algae from green hair to red turf to valonia bubbles). Keeps the rocks very clean and manageable looking. Aggressively eats all prepared foods. Very large and dense fish with a ton of muscle mass. They will eat like horses. I also feed the tank 4-5 times a day though.

Nicolette · Sep 1, 2016

once mine finished the caulerpa, no matter how often I fed him (chaeto, mysis, seaweed, squid), he started eating my softball size favia brain, and finished it.

CenlaReefer · Sep 1, 2016

Nicolette said:
once mine finished the caulerpa, no matter how often I fed him (chaeto, mysis, seaweed, squid), he started eating my softball size favia brain, and finished it.

Wow. :( I would hate that to happen to my favia. How long did it take for the fish to eat up that entire coral? When you first noticed him eating on the favia, I guess it was too late or difficult to move the coral to the sump or another tank?

Nicolette · Sep 23, 2016

Eye Candy Corals said:
Wow. :( I would hate that to happen to my favia. How long did it take for the fish to eat up that entire coral? When you first noticed him eating on the favia, I guess it was too late or difficult to move the coral to the sump or another tank?

At first he only picked at it, I did eventually move it to a 12 gallon.. where it took up all of the sand bed lol.. and it proceeded to die anyway. it was about half eaten at that point. Probably happened over a 3 month period. My pygmy angel would pick at it from time to time, but the brain was healthy enough that you couldn't notice. I think the foxface may have gotten the idea to try it from watching the angel..