Foxface freaking out

[tapm]

I have a 4-5" foxface in a 30 gal long QT. I got him from divers den LA. The first few days he was fine in the tank and would just hide behind some plants and pvc when I'd come up to the tank. He'd still come out to eat if I backed off a little etc. I know the QT tank is on the small side but I thought he'd be ok. I've seen fish at the LFS in smaller tanks. After 5 days of being in the QT he now totally freaks out when anyone comes near the tank. He won't calm down and I end up leaving the room so he stops running into the walls and filter. Anytime I peak around the corner he is acting normally and grazing. I can't even get a close look at him to check for any diseases. Sholud I do a hurry up treatment and get him out or upsize my QT quickly?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Hattie B]

from my experience FF can be a little on the shy side.

A 30g QT should be fine for him.

I have a FF and from my experience when I did a QT he was ok for the first couple of days but was very shy when I entered the room.

I gave him a large PVC to hide in, actually 2 of them. In time he became more comfortable and was out more, but still scard when I entered the room. You could also try a terra cotta pot with a closed end in the back to make it more comfortable like a closed end feeling.

I can also tell you that after his QT he went into my 135g and to this day when I enter the room he will still flee to the other side of the tank and hide, or he will change colors and stay very still.

He does now come to the top for feedings and is out swimming a lot and will beg for food at feeding times but he is still sometimes shy and I have had him for a long time.

They are rabbits. =)

 

[tapm]

Well, I determined the cause of my foxface's change in behavior. The day before I noticed him freaking out at the sight of me, my 4 yr old daughter was down in the basement (where the fish are in QT) and was swirling the magnet cleaner around the tank. She said the fish was like a rocket fish blasting off in the tank. That explains it. I now have the tank darkened and covered mostly and it is swimming and eating normally. I hope she hasn't traumatized it for good.

 

[andrewsmart]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9763977#post9763977 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tapm
Well, I determined the cause of my foxface's change in behavior. The day before I noticed him freaking out at the sight of me, my 4 yr old daughter was down in the basement (where the fish are in QT) and was swirling the magnet cleaner around the tank. She said the fish was like a rocket fish blasting off in the tank. That explains it. I now have the tank darkened and covered mostly and it is swimming and eating normally. I hope she hasn't traumatized it for good.

fox faces are never bold fish but mine has had her spells and always calms back down.

i had a party once and it took her a month to forgive me

 

[andrewsmart]

get somw large pvc pipe in there fror it to hide in and to sleep in at night.

 

[tapm]

I have some PVC and plants in there for it. The PVC is large enough for it to go inside but it prefers to hide behind it by the plants. I hope I didn't make a mistake getting this guy if they are that shy. It will be going into a 180 walk around tank. All sides are exposed!

 

[andrewsmart]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9764889#post9764889 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tapm
I have some PVC and plants in there for it. The PVC is large enough for it to go inside but it prefers to hide behind it by the plants. I hope I didn't make a mistake getting this guy if they are that shy. It will be going into a 180 walk around tank. All sides are exposed!

i dont think so as long as there are som hiding places. you have rocks right.

the are great fish just go loopy at times bet you thought it was dead when you were aclimatising it. quite some change in colour.

they like somewhere to hide but are very active most of the time.

mine seems to appreciate some other large fish i had a dog face for a while she loved.

 

[tapm]

Yes I have rocks I knew to expect the dramatic coloration when they are stressed after shipping. I think that was stated somewhere on the LA website. I am a little worried however because His color is still off. I have the tank mostly covered still and when I sneak up and look in he is swimming normally and eating/ picking at algae etc but his color is still very dark. It's deffinately not the normal bright yellow color with white/ black. It almost looks like there is some deep redish color by his tail, I hope it didn't get injured. And sad news, my diamond spot goby I had in there with him jumped out I've read to much recently about them jumping and my luck ran out! It jumped from the small slit in front of my HOB filter, everything else is covered.

 

[andrewsmart]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9769917#post9769917 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tapm
Yes I have rocks I knew to expect the dramatic coloration when they are stressed after shipping. I think that was stated somewhere on the LA website. I am a little worried however because His color is still off. I have the tank mostly covered still and when I sneak up and look in he is swimming normally and eating/ picking at algae etc but his color is still very dark. It's deffinately not the normal bright yellow color with white/ black. It almost looks like there is some deep redish color by his tail, I hope it didn't get injured. And sad news, my diamond spot goby I had in there with him jumped out I've read to much recently about them jumping and my luck ran out! It jumped from the small slit in front of my HOB filter, everything else is covered.

mine has a redish mark where his body thins to his tail.

always had it so i assume it is normal.

mine often has some brown in his body as well.

the yellow should come back given time and peace.

 

[tapm]

Thanks for all your help. Sometimes I feel like my posts get buried and I get no responses. That makes me feel better, it must just be a normally darker area and with him in dark mode it seems extra dark.

 

[andrewsmart]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9772313#post9772313 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tapm
Thanks for all your help. Sometimes I feel like my posts get buried and I get no responses. That makes me feel better, it must just be a normally darker area and with him in dark mode it seems extra dark.

mine has a variety of colours as i say he isn't always proper yellow.

watch your alk and salinity levels this can affect there colour. although that tends to make them pale yellow.


glad to help rabbit fish are my favorite fish.