Foxface - Rabbitfish

[IndyMatt]

Is there a particular species that tends to nip corals or one that tends not to nip? I am in need of something to eat the grape calerpa in my tank. I had a Fiji that I am pretty sure was nipping at my brain coral.

 

[SkyPapa]

I have had a one spot for about 4 months that took care of the grape and hasn't, so far, bother any coral.

 

[rydr119]

I have a 2-barred and its great. Ate my bubble problem away and keeps all the other stuff in check along with my blue hippo. Awesome personality as well. Mine doesn't touch my corals or clams but it is a chance you take. It depends on the individual fish I think. Its been in my tank for over a year.

 

[BIG-G]

Most rabbit fish if given a choice are going to go after the algea. When thats gone just keep it well fead and most will not bother any thing. I have had a foxface for about three years now and he has never touched a coral. I say most because sometimes you will find one that eats something. But if you are offering greens there should not be a problem.

 

[IndyMatt]

Yeah I know it is toss-up, I kept a fiji well fed and it took to nipping at my Trachphyllia Geofri (sp?). I know's it's a toss up but I was trying to see if some are less of a gamble.

 

[jda]

Any rabbitfish can start to nip/eat coral when they get larger. They don't seem as bad when they are small. Pay attention to the size and give them away when they start to get too big for your tank - they won't be able to live in a 90G for too long.

I have had better luck with magnificents than others, but I still would not trust them. I keep one around almost at all times to take care of algae in all of my tanks.

 

[IndyMatt]

Yeah, I have heard the same thing about Magnificents and the smaller the better. Lo's are pretty common around here and should be able to get a small one about two inches or so.

 

[jda]

I have rarely seen a small magnificent.

If you want to go another route, turbo snails will eat the macro once all of the easy algae is gone. I used a bunch of them in my tank to get rid of byropsis and grape. I pulled out as much as I could by hand. Then, I put in 50 turbos. Within 3 weeks, it was all gone. Then, I spread the turbos out in my other tanks. The 8 or 10 that are still in there keep it from coming back. My magnificent would not touch the byropsis.

 

[95accord]

i had a foxface.....he was awesome...until the accident

 

[vetdog]

I have a magnificent foxface and he is amazing. never nips at anything except algae and the nori I put into the tank. Keeps everything spotless