Foxface stressed about smallish QT. Any ideas to help?

[GroktheCube]

I received a 4" Magnificent Foxface from LA DD today. The fish arrived in great shape (as expected), and went into my 20G high QT tank where it promptly hid behind a PVC fitting an went into camo mode (also as expected).

Around 5pm he started venturing out to explore, and by 6pm, he was beautifully colored and exploring every inch of the tank. By 6:30, he was pacing back and forth against the glass.

I've had plenty of fish that were extremely shy during QT, but never one that acted so bothered by the small tank. I've QTed other 3-4" fish (including a bristletooth tang) in the same tang without issue.

Any suggestions to help minimize his stress/keep him from rubbing his nose raw? The back of the tank is painted black, a white sheet or choroplast is under the bottom of the tank, and one side is right up against a wall.

 

[HumbleFish]

I QT'd a 4" foxface in a 10 gal QT (tank transfer) and he sorta did the same thing. So, I went out and got him a pretty big PVC "cave" (one he could fit inside). I left the light on a lot in the room he was in and he stayed hidden in his cave.

 

[sc50964]

Give it more time. It's less than one day. 20g is a bit small but fox fish are as tough as nails. I would worry if he's still like this after 3 days.

 

[GroktheCube]

Yeah, I have a couple 3"ID sweeps in there, so he has a cave if he wants it. I'll get some more light into the room tomorrow to see how he reacts.

If he doesn't seem to get better, I may give him Prazi while I'm doing TTM to cut back on QT time a bit.

 

[Deinonych]

Give it more time. It's less than one day. 20g is a bit small but fox fish are as tough as nails. I would worry if he's still like this after 3 days.

+1

IME, Foxfaces takes several days to settle in. Give him a few more days and I suspect he'll calm down. As long as he is eating, he'll be fine.

 

[GroktheCube]

He's acting a bit more like I'd expect today. Shy, though I can see him exploring a bit when I'm not in the room, or have my back turned for a while. He has a little macroalgae and some nori in there, not sure if he's munched on any of it yet though.

 

[sc50964]

He's acting a bit more like I'd expect today. Shy, though I can see him exploring a bit when I'm not in the room, or have my back turned for a while. He has a little macroalgae and some nori in there, not sure if he's munched on any of it yet though.

I think he will do fine. I once had a nasty outbreak in my tank, the last fish standing was the fox fish. Swimming around like nothing happened.