One spot Foxface - Is my tank big enough?

[lespaul339]

I have a 150 gallon. 60x24x24. 55 gallon sump with lost of live rock in it for bio load. I want to get a one spot fox face. My current fish stock list is:

Copperband butterfly
Yellow tang
2 perc clowns
2 yellow tail damsels
royal gramma
lawnmower blenny
coral beauty (currently in QT, but will be added before one spot if all goes well)


They list a minimum aquarium size for the one spot at 70 gallons. But with the current fish in my system would I be ok adding the one spot?

 

[eastlake]

you're yellow tang will likely give it some flack right out of the gate but it should ultimately be fine

 

[scooter31707]

You should be good for awhile. I have heard of stories of Foxfaces becoming aggressive as they mature and they grow very fast. They get a big 7 inches. As mentioned above, you may have some problems introducing it with that established yellow tang. Might want to try an acclimation box.

 

[lespaul339]

Thanks. I hadn't heard about them being aggressive as they get older so that's good to know. I figured that with the yellow tang. Honestly wouldn't mind the fox face putting the tang in his place. I saw the fox face at the pet store this weekend and just fell in love with his personality. Really cool fish! I think it will be my next fish purchase.

 

[eastlake]

I've never had issues with adult faxfaces being aggressive. My wife has always referred to them as the chicken of the sea because the ones I've had have been such wimps

 

[lespaul339]

How big did your adult one spot get?

 

[scooter31707]

He max out around 7-7.5, but it seem bigger than that with all the girth he had also. Just be watchful, mines became very careless/aggressive swimming all crazy against other fish, preventing them from eating.

 

[lespaul339]

Do you think they would do better in an aggressive/big fish system? Instead of keeping it with peaceful/smaller fish? I worry about it with my copperband. My copperband is my favorite fish, and I would hate to see it get stressed out. I do spot feed him, but I also like him to feed around the tank with he other fish as well. He gets stressed with fast eaters around him.

 

[eastlake]

Mine have been aggressive eaters and when they would dart it would only be when a new person would come into the room, then it would dive into the rocks to get out of sight. Mine grew to be about ten inches and was in a system with a purple tang, he seemed much happier when the tang wasn't in there, in my experience I think they do better with other passive fish.

 

[lespaul339]

Wow, 10 inches! Even though I have big tank I don't think I want a fish that gets that big. Might have to pass on this fish, as cool as they are I don't want to have to re home it when it outgrows my tank. I think I'd rather have more smaller fish than one bigger one. Bummer, because they are awesome fish. Thanks for all the input.

 

[nereefpat]

FYI: fishbase lists the max size at a little shy of 8". Live aquaria, if you haven't already looked there, says 7", with a min tank size of 70gal. 70 is too small, imo, but I think your 150 is big enough.

Watch that yellow tang though, as others have said.