foxface secreting a clear almost smoky film

blynch002

blynch002

New member
I got a foxface rabbitfish last week and he has been doing great in my 75gal reef tank. Today I noticed it looked like he was steaming or smoking. Then, there was a bunch of this almost clear film floating around the tank. Anybody know what I might have been looking at?
 
blynch002 said:
I got a foxface rabbitfish last week and he has been doing great in my 75gal reef tank. Today I noticed it looked like he was steaming or smoking. Then, there was a bunch of this almost clear film floating around the tank. Anybody know what I might have been looking at?
Click to expand...

Take a closer look on the body to see if this film is on their body or not. I've a pair and both shed this and they're fine. A while back I thought there was something wrong with them till I did a search "foxface shedding" and came across a thread someone said they're shedding mucus to clean their skins.
 
Gary, I've learned a lot from the great info you provided over the years.

Just another note--my pair shed everyday and one time I caught one of my angel eating it but only seen it once.
 
I've seen clear mystery films floating around my aquariums for years.
In some cases it was from a Wrasse... sometimes a coral...
but I've seen these things in tanks where there is no Wrasse or shedding type coral. I knew it had to be a fish other than a Wrasse. This solves the mystery!
 
When they shed it doesn't come off right away and through most part of the day I see the film still hanging onto their skin especially toward the top. Hope this help to confirm it.
 
The fish is definitely shedding its cuticle...nothing to worry about. it's not really a mucous layer, but more akin to a reptile's skin, altho not "quite". Lionfish and other Scorpioniformes do this on a regular basis, and it's one of the reasons these fish are disease-resistant.

Here's a vid showing our volitans molting:

LIONFISH SHEDDING CUTICLE
 
For some reason I can't seem to be able to open the youtube screen to play the video. My frondosa shed every couple of days and much thicker than what's coming off the foxface but the foxface shed everyday.

I actually just saw it flowing in the water on one of the video I uploaded 2 weeks ago on photobucket but I can't seem to edit it there like I can with photos. The vid is 1:30 and the skin flowing is only a few seconds. I deleted the original in the memory card as I was running low. Anyone know how I can edit the vid on photobucket?
 
namxas said:
The fish is definitely shedding its cuticle...nothing to worry about. it's not really a mucous layer, but more akin to a reptile's skin, altho not "quite". Lionfish and other Scorpioniformes do this on a regular basis, and it's one of the reasons these fish are disease-resistant.

Here's a vid showing our volitans molting:

LIONFISH SHEDDING CUTICLE
Click to expand...

Oh wow, now i know what they are in my tank! my foxface was the fist fish in my tank and i would see those films all over the tank (still do) and not able to find the source of it! great info! thanks.
 
For some reason the video doesn't play on the computer but I've no problem seeing it on the ipod. Yes, that's the skin the foxface is shedding but comes off in smaller pieces. Thanks for the video.
 
I had my local genius at the fish store tell me it was the mucous layer shedding. He said that venomous fish do this to restore their defenses.
 
blynch002 said:
I had my local genius at the fish store tell me it was the mucous layer shedding. He said that venomous fish do this to restore their defenses.
Click to expand...

We pretty much specialize in keeping Scorpaeniformes, and most of them shed their cuticles at some point (Rhinopias sp. seem to do it every couple of weeks).

Many sedentary species actually have algae, polyps, etc growing on them, which aids in their camouflage, but when they get "too full" of whatever is on them, they molt.

In fact, you can often see fish going thru various contortions to loosen the cuticle. We even have fish that will face into a return to let the flow help loosen the cuticle. Then they give a few quick darts, and the cuticle comes off.

Take a look at the dorsal area of this Ambon scorpionfish and you'll see a partially shed cuticle:

ambon700.jpg
 
I always wondered if it was their venom or what. Because I have only noticed this in venomous fish over the years. Thanks so much for clarifying!
 
Most fish that have cuticles to shed are quite disease resistant, at least in terms of ectoparasites.
 
Wow I learned a lot more than I thought I would with this post. Thanks for the help guys. What I see coming off that scorpionfish is exactly what is coming off of my foxface. Freakin geniuses...:beer:
 
wow, i have had a foxface now for 5 years, the thing is huge!! & I've never seen mine do this.....guess i'm missing out :(
 
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