Foxface tail rot or aggression?

[George9]

Last month, I noticed my foxface's tail was a bit ragged. And since then it has stayed the same. It hasn't healed, or gotten much worse. I thought that if it was aggression, it would heal pretty fast, but if it was rot, it would progress quickly. I have a pair of clowns with him and I've never seen them pick on him, but who knows what happens at night. I do my weekly water changes, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate is all 0. He eats NLS and has been in my 60g tank for around 3 months now.

I got him in October, and has never had his fins bitten or rotting in a 10g qt tank. It's also probably important to note that this fish seemed happier (color wise) in the 10g tank. Since I introduced him to the 60g tank, he's never been full yellow during the day, he is always half brown and I could never figure out why so I never worried about it if he was eating. He acts happy though. Not sure if this could have something to do with it .

 

[Newsmyrna80]

It would lean towards aggression. Clowns can be mean. Can you separate him and see if that helps?

 

[George9]

I don't really have room to separate him, that might stress him out a lot too. Would new fin growth be dark orange? That's what the tips of his fins are. I plan on trying to feed him lots of veggies and soak his food in vitamins it might stimulate some faster grosth


I really appreciate all your help with everything

 

[Newsmyrna80]

New growth could come in a different color and then morph back into another color. Could you move rocks around? That sometimes helps with aggressive fish.

 

[George9]

I can totally try to move some rocks around. Now that I think about it, the clowns kinda have the left side of the tank, which is also where the foxface likes to be. Moving some things around May help. I will try this and report back if I notice anything worse!!

Thank you

 

[Deinonych]

It would lean towards aggression. Clowns can be mean. Can you separate him and see if that helps?

+1

My clowns nip at my foxface when he wanders into their territory. They notch his tail every now and then. He's not too bright, though...keeps coming back for more it seems.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

+1

My clowns nip at my foxface when he wanders into their territory. They notch his tail every now and then. He's not too bright, though...keeps coming back for more it seems.

LOL, my clown used to take nips out of me...bad fish

 

[George9]

Mine have a pretty nasty bite when I stick my hand in the tank lol.

Do you think that ocean nutrition Formula 2 pellets along with NLS is enough veggie matter in the foxface's diet to replace algae all together? I've found that this fish goes crazy for any type of pellets, but refuses to eat nori off of a clip.

 

[Deinonych]

Do you think that ocean nutrition Formula 2 pellets along with NLS is enough veggie matter in the foxface's diet to replace algae all together? I've found that this fish goes crazy for any type of pellets, but refuses to eat nori off of a clip.

Probably not. They have very inefficient digestive systems and need to eat constantly. Do you have sufficient algae in the tank for it to graze on? If not, try securing a piece of nori to some rock rubble with a rubber band and place it on the rocks. Sometimes that works if the clip doesn't. Hopefully he'll learn to use the clip. Mine tears into it whenever there's nori on the clip.

 

[George9]

I will try securing some nori to the rocks and see if he likes it!

 

[George9]

I'm so surprised, I secured some purple seaweed in the mag float just to see if he'd grab some and he loves it!! He was grabbing huge chunks of it out and actually eating it.

Hopefully it will help him with the fin regeneration.

 

[Deinonych]

I'm so surprised, I secured some purple seaweed in the mag float just to see if he'd grab some and he loves it!! He was grabbing huge chunks of it out and actually eating it.

Hopefully it will help him with the fin regeneration.

Excellent! :thumbsup:

 

[George9]

Is there any secret to keeping the seaweed on the clip longer? My foxface takes his first bite and then it's ripped off and he's done with it. The only way he gets a lot is if it is floating all over in the water, but then you get lots of detritus

 

[Deinonych]

I usually dip the nori in the tank, fold in half and clip on the fold. Stays in place long enough for my FF to eat it entirely.

 

[George9]

I will try this later today, thank you!

 

[George9]

Foxface tail rot or aggression?

Well one month later and I'm seeing TONS of fin regrowth. It's crazy how fast it's coming back now. All it took was doing more frequent water changes he is yellow a lot more often, but still has dull days (as we all do lol).

Thanks for all your suggestions!


Before:

After

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Wow! He looks good...congrats!

 

[emcmilla]

Wow. His progress is remarkable! I am facing a similar issue with my magnificent foxface and potential tail rot or possible aggression.