Foxface reef safe

[DustyReefer]

I'm leaning towards a foxface for algae control and am just a little worried about how reef safe they really are. I know that out of all the rabbits the foxface is the MOST reef safe, but I've amassed quite a collection of rare zoas and palys that I'd hate to see devoured... Just looking to hear some experiences people have, and see how many people have had a foxface "go rogue"

 

[Bernie21]

I've had all the types and several of them over the years, removing them when they got too big. Some of my favorite fish... Best Algae eaters bar none, and they eat all the types of algae. Never did any one of them ever touch anything that wasnt algae. Great fish!

 

[db1317]

I had a one-spot that, when he got bigger, ate my armor of gods and munched the tips off a bali green slimer. It did decimate my dictyota and grape caleurpa before he needed something else to eat.

 

[arthur08]

iad one for about 6 months didnt bother nothing till one day he would eat coral that were not doing so good at the time my brain had got stung and had tissue going bad and he ate the rest of it same with some candy and lobo so i got rid of him, but again never touched anything that wasnt doing bad

 

[downbeach]

If you treasure your coral's I'd avoid this one, it's very hit or miss.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/hcs3/index.php

You might consider one of the Bristletooth tangs:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/hcs3/index.php

 

[Dmorty217]

If you keep the fox face well fed and offer nori or some other kind of seaweed you shouldn't have a issue. Most fish become destructive when they are underfed. Had one for 5 yrs in my 180g without issue

 

[mastersonr]

I've had all the types and several of them over the years, removing them when they got too big. Some of my favorite fish... Best Algae eaters bar none, and they eat all the types of algae. Never did any one of them ever touch anything that wasnt algae. Great fish!

How do they do with hair algae? Which type of foxface is your favorite? I have read some where they may be a little skittish too. Has that been your experience?

 

[Bernie21]

How do they do with hair algae? Which type of foxface is your favorite? I have read some where they may be a little skittish too. Has that been your experience?

I've had the Lo, One spot, bicolor & magnificent... They're all great, but I felt that the lo & one spot were more skittish than the rest. They still swam around all the time, but if you crept up to the tank unexpectedly they would dash and hide for a bit, but then resumed regular activities. Yes, they anything algae, red, gha, long hair algae, bubble algae, sea weed, lettuce, spinach, whatever plant they could get their mouths one. I liked them all really.

 

[J2T]

I had a Lo in my 75g and the only thing he ever touched was a piece of a mushroom because he was going after the bubble algae underneath. I put a piece of nori in their once a day (or every other day) and had no issues with him nipping anything. Just had to remove him as he got too big for my tank. If I had a larger tank he would definitely still be in there.

 

[pinnatus]

I am not a fan of the entire rabbitfish family. They are skittish and venomous, which is a bad combo, imo. They grow very fast and get big. I do not care for them.

 

[DustyReefer]

Thanks for all the info! I'm still probably going to get the foxface, but will be removing all the higher end stuff to a frag tank. Just can't take the risk of him munching on some stuff I've worked so hard to acquire and grow... They still are a beautiful fish though, and I don't foresee a problem with most of my corals just primarily the zoas and palys from what Iv'e heard from many horror stories

 

[Bernie21]

If I had a larger tank he would definitely still be in there.

Ditto, I would still have any one of mine had they not outgrown my tank.

 

[mastersonr]

If you treasure your coral's I'd avoid this one, it's very hit or miss.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/hcs3/index.php

You might consider one of the Bristletooth tangs:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/hcs3/index.php

Thanks for the article downbeach. These tangs are good options to consider for an algae eater. I do like how the Kole Tang will swim from rock to rock while constantly picking at them. They are fun to watch and bring some good activity to a tank.

 

[Guillermo820]

I have a fox face as we speak and has never looked at the corals but I keep all my fish well feed with high in protein and nori

 

[Arnoldtatts]

I have a one spot and never had a problem. One of my favorite fish in my tank

 

[Rapide]

Vulpinus and unimaculatus are basically the same species and are concidered to be rather reef safe. IMO there is no such thing as a reef safe fish! I always say, that if it has a mouth, it is going to eat something. Seems to me that you already knew the answer...
I have friends who have kept other foxface species succesfully with LPS, SPS and soft corals, but there is still a risk that they may go after some delicious ones, such as Lobophyllia.
Rabbitfishes are a different story. I wouldn't call them reef safe at all. There were some Orange spots in my LFS a few months ago (the two similar species, can't remember names, punctatus?) and they went postal!! One ate a big Elegance coral as sopn as it got to the tank, and others did some damego too. I got a lot of thanks after I got on time to stop a couple friends of mine from getting one!! LFS sold them as 100% reef safe, saying that all Foxfaces and Rabbitfishes eat only algae. Well they don't...

I would say, that the ones that are the same shape as vulpinus are more reef safe. I have one, and it hasn't touched any corals so far...

 

[Bernie21]

I have a tomini tang because I got tired of replacing foxes when they out grew my tank. I really like it, but no where near the voracious algae eater the foxes were.

 

[DustyReefer]

Vulpinus and unimaculatus are basically the same species and are concidered to be rather reef safe. IMO there is no such thing as a reef safe fish! I always say, that if it has a mouth, it is going to eat something. Seems to me that you already knew the answer...
I have friends who have kept other foxface species succesfully with LPS, SPS and soft corals, but there is still a risk that they may go after some delicious ones, such as Lobophyllia.
Rabbitfishes are a different story. I wouldn't call them reef safe at all. There were some Orange spots in my LFS a few months ago (the two similar species, can't remember names, punctatus?) and they went postal!! One ate a big Elegance coral as sopn as it got to the tank, and others did some damego too. I got a lot of thanks after I got on time to stop a couple friends of mine from getting one!! LFS sold them as 100% reef safe, saying that all Foxfaces and Rabbitfishes eat only algae. Well they don't...

I would say, that the ones that are the same shape as vulpinus are more reef safe. I have one, and it hasn't touched any corals so far...

Its true I did already know the answer to my own question, that foxfaces are in fact reef safe to an extent, but can be unpredictable. Was just looking for people to reassure with positive experiences, but more so to confirm my already existing fears of them eating corals.