Rabbitfish: good citizens or not?

[Sk8r]

This in response to a question in another thread.
My experience with them.
They're very ich prone but rarely die of it...a few bumps, then gone.

I've had them kill other fish as they grow up. Perfect citizen until then. Then death by red spot (poison) took out several fishes. If he got into a tight nook, and another fish came in behind him, I suspect, he'd freak and fin it.

They're a quirky, funny fish---our local lfs has a moderate-sized one that was in with the corals---until he decided green hammer might be edible.

They are a lovely splash of color and pattern, but are best in a long tank without mazy nooks, and do need their greens! That's my conclusion about them. They also make me quite nervous when I have to work in the rockwork: I wear leather gloves under the over-the-elbows when I really need to move things about. I've seen the result of a sting on a human hand and it was pretty nasty.

 

[whosurcaddie]

They also like to go after zoa's, so if they are a priority I would skip the Foxface at least.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

I had one kill my yellow watchman goby as it was trying to protect it's burrow. The foxface backed up and speared it with that spine.

 

[scooter31707]

IMO, they should be in at least a 180 when becoming fully matured.

 

[hkgar]

I have one in a 180 (Two Barred) and it pretty much keeps to itself in some space in the rocks. Mostly only comes out for feeding and really chows down on the Nori. Here is a video of him feeding, plus more
https://goo.gl/photos/NsnMDEf8N1VCFAzs9

The amount of Nori on the clip is equivalent to a piece 2 inches by 4 inches. I put two clips up every afternoon with that much.

I am aware of the venomous nature of the fin spines, but have assumed that it was used for defensive purposes and my observations, which might be wrong, is that other fish have a sense of the danger and give him his space.

Your post, though, has me thinking I might attempt a capture when he is feeding and take him to my LFS. I would hate to lose my new Purple Tang by mistake.

 

[Frostyfishman]

I had one and it ravaged my zoas so I traded him to the lfs where I purchased him.

 

[hkgar]

I had a Zoa encrusted rock, that I kept seperate from all other rocks so it wouldn't spread. I had it for several months and just last week took it to my LFS, but the Two Barred never touched it.

 

[snorvich]

Any herbivore, when hungry, will eat zooxanthellae found in many corals. Herbivores are generally inefficient eaters and as such eat constantly. That is why tank size and maturity are relevant.

 

[Frostyfishman]

I this case it was a large mature tank with algae and I supplement with different herbivore food daily.

 

[BigEZ77]

IMO, they should be in at least a 180 when becoming fully matured.

Even a One Spot?

 

[Sk8r]

Growth potential is ten muscular and venomous inches. That's serious fish and very hard to handle as they mature. Best never to have to move them.

 

[Sapelo]

We keep a gold spot in our 300 and I wish he were smaller or the tank were larger.
This one is very mellow but our previous rabbitfish, a two barred, was a freak out a minute type.
I must confess that our zoas have been trimmed a few times; they always come back, but he keeps them..."contained."

 

[eastlake]

I never had any problems with my foxface. Never touched corals, never attacked anyone, and the only time it would deploy its spines is when my jerk of a purple tang would assert dominance and even that just meant the foxface going vertical with its fins erect as if to say, "just leave me alone man." Big 'ol puppy dog that would always beg for food and retreat to the rocks when someone he didn't recognize would walk into the room. One of my favorite saltwater fish ever.

 

[BlackTip]

I have a Fiji Foxface for about 3 months in the DT. Grow from 2" to about 5" now. He is the biggest guy in the tank. He doesn't bother any corals or fish, even when the Gramma gets a little aggressive with him. I saw her bite him couple of times when he gets too close to her cave. He doesn't fight back. Eats like a hog and munch of the algae in the tank all day. I really hope he stays that way. I believe is is a little fatso.

He stays in one corner when I put my hand in the tank to blow off the rocks once a week. It is probably time for me to get into the habit of putting the gloves on.

 

[Sk8r]

The problem comes if he gets backed into a corner and freaks. His attempt to get out to clear water may bring the venomous spine into play. As long as he has sufficient room, he won't attack---but he has one other really problematic behavior, which is going over on his side, in camo colors, and plastering himself to the underside of large rocks when there's a lot of disturbance in the tank. If you are moving rock in the tank, and particularly if a lot of detritus has gotten kicked up, obscuring view, knowing where he is, is really important.

 

[JMorris271]

Would not a tang have that same trait to make them risky ?

 

[Sk8r]

Yes, in too small a tank, a tang can kill other fish, and unlike the rabbit, may attack and chase.