Catching a One Spot Foxface?

[Washout]

Heya RC,

I have having huge aggression issues with my one spot Foxface, unfortunately it's killed 3 of my tangs in the last 2 weeks, and it's nipped one of the this almost off on my last tang.

I have to get this fish out of my tank ASAP! It's a big tank and I've had no luck with a net, I am trying a home made fish trap which I have had success with before.

I am wondering if anyone has had issues of aggression with these fish, and how did they catch them?

 

[HumbleFish]

I constructed a cheap DIY fish trap using this guy's template: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15902634&postcount=10

I've caught a couple of tangs with it using nori as bait. I'm thinking it would work on a foxface the same way.

 

[Washout]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot. Unfortunately the bastard just killed my very first fish a firefish He was fine for weeks now all of the sudden going on a murderous rampage, yellow, lieutenant, sailfin and now my firefish

 

[sc50964]

How big is your tank?

 

[Washout]

150g 6 ft

all the tangs are juvenile and so is the foxface. I almost got him using a nori strip and a net.

 

[sc50964]

Doing a large WC and catching the fish when there is limited amount of space/water is another way.

 

[sc50964]

It's odd though. I've had several foxfaces in the past and never found them to exhibit any aggression unless it's another foxface. In fact, tangs were the ones I usually had to worry. Is the foxface much bigger? Sometimes adding flow will reduce aggression.

 

[HumbleFish]

Yeah, it is pretty odd for a foxface to kill other fish (except other foxfaces). They are typically "gentle giants".

 

[Washout]

I wasn't sure what it was at first. My sailfin tang definitely had a bit mark out of it. Then I saw him going at my blue tang a few times and proved to me it was the foxface. It's also killed all but 1 of my shrimp, and I'm fairly certain a bunch of snails.

 

[LelandF.]

After the lights have been off for a couple of hours, you can aim a bright flashlight on it and net it. Move the net very slowly until the last second, then be fast. I've successfully caught many fish this way.

Leland

 

[Washout]

I thought so too until I saw him do it. I thought I might have had a hitch hiker crab or something. But each tang that was killed had bike marks, so definitely a fish.

Very mad about that firefish being killed

 

[sc50964]

Just want to make sure we're indeed talking about the right fish. Is the following what's causing problem? If so then you really have bad luck bc they usually always just put up their back fins and assume defensive position when threatened.

 

[Washout]

Yes, that's the fish. I won't be able to get him in a net at night because he hides under a rock when he sleeps

 

[Waters40]

I made an acrylic fish trap with a mirror at one end....works especially well for aggressive fish such as yours. They see their reflection and head right for the mirror.

 

[Washout]

Good call...I'm going to give this a go tomorrow. He's gotta go, my blue tang eventually succumbed to it's injuries He doesn't bother my clowns or my cardinals, but I'd imagine that will happen soon. I also caught the bugger eating my red paly, what a nightmare fish. It's too bad because he's very healthy and active, and is growing like a weed.

 

[Deinonych]

Yeah, it is pretty odd for a foxface to kill other fish (except other foxfaces). They are typically "gentle giants".

+1

Mine is a complete sissy. Even my flasher wrasses bully him from time to time. Just goes to show that every fish is different. Hope you catch him before he terrorizes your remaining fish!

 

[BeanMachine]

I made an acrylic fish trap with a mirror at one end....works especially well for aggressive fish such as yours. They see their reflection and head right for the mirror.

I've had many successes uses this method as well. My old fox face was a glutton and wouldn't resist any food.

Something like this would work. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=14700

The mirror also works especially if its an aggressive fish and wants to eliminate its competition.

 

[CT Reefer]

I have that exact trap. Didn't feed my fish for a couple of days and then placed some mysis in the feeding tube. My copperband butterfly went in and I caught him. Seems like the rest of the fish saw that capture and now won't go near the thing. I'll try the mirror, I might be able to get the tang lured in......

I've had many successes uses this method as well. My old fox face was a glutton and wouldn't resist any food.

Something like this would work. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=14700

The mirror also works especially if its an aggressive fish and wants to eliminate its competition.