Stressed Foxface

[glenlikes_stuff]

I got a new Foxface 2 days ago and he is constantly stressed.

This is just a photo from google but this is what he looks like -

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTjy34vT9wJoF1VYhI8WKw2urX9YWHjMWbRdx2fhQIlbSXvX50G

He was freaked out when he was still in the bag when I was floating him in the tank, trying to swim out, going crazy. So I did the acclimitisation as fast as I could but since then he is just hiding, looking like the photo.

Every now and again he swims very cautiously (and during this time he looks fine, with no spots) but its not often.

He will eat a small amount when I feed but doesn't venture too far to get the food.

It's a 6 foot tank with only a volitan lionfish and frogfish at the moment (tank has been setup for 6 months).

Ammonia and Nitrite are 0. Nitrates are 40.

I know the Nitrates are high but I'm getting a new tank on the weekend with sump and skimmer which will help with this.

Is this normal behaviour for a new Foxface? I read they can be quite stressed fish. Thanks

 

[glenlikes_stuff]

Now he isn't eating =( !!

 

[snorvich]

It's a 6 foot tank with only a volitan lionfish and frogfish at the moment (tank has been setup for 6 months).

If someone put YOU in a cage with an animal that prefers to eat you, would YOU be stressed out?

 

[glenlikes_stuff]

Who are YOU referring to? It is my understanding that Foxface are fine in an aggressive tank ??

 

[glenlikes_stuff]

My frogfish stays in his cave, does not move. And the Foxface takes shelter right next to it... so I doubt it is scared of the frogfish. And he's again always next to the Lionfish so do you actually have any experience to suggest that's what he's afraid of or do you just feel like chiming in?

Also, as I said he was extremely stressed when he was in the transport bag from the LFS before he even saw the tankmates.

 

[GrendelPrime76]

i know when i 1st got my foxface he was very skitish for about 2 weeks then he settled down, ide try to keep the lights off for a day and just let him get used to the tank

 

[MrTuskfish]

How big are the foxface & the volitans? Nitrates at 40ppm is not any concern at all in a FOWLR tank. The term "stress" seems to have become a term that covers everything. Many fish act wild when you disturb their little bag and 2 days is way to early to tell much. Some fish will take weeks to settle down. Judging from your reactive posts above, you may be the one with the stress problem.

 

[snorvich]

My frogfish stays in his cave, does not move. And the Foxface takes shelter right next to it... so I doubt it is scared of the frogfish. And he's again always next to the Lionfish so do you actually have any experience to suggest that's what he's afraid of or do you just feel like chiming in?

Why would you come to that conclusion? If the fish is hiding, there is usually a reason. With the information provided, albeit minimal, that would be my first thought. Do I have experience? More than a small amount.

Also, as I said he was extremely stressed when he was in the transport bag from the LFS before he even saw the tankmates.

 

[rosemoondust]

I have a foxface and a fully grown russell lionfish in the same tank. The lionfish is 2 inches bigger than the foxface. They completely ignore each other. I feed my lionfish live treats like ghost shrimps and mollies. I doubt your foxface is stressing out from his new tank mates.

I would suggest putting a rock with some nori tied to it near the area where the foxface hides. Might help him to eat until you can get the foxface feeding out of your hand.

The problem might also be the nitrates. Fish can do fine with 40 nitrates for a little while because nitrates generally slowly rise allowing the fish to adjust to the rising nitrates. Your foxface only had a few hours to go from 10 nitrates to 40 and is probably not enjoying it.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I have a foxface and a fully grown russell lionfish in the same tank. The lionfish is 2 inches bigger than the foxface. They completely ignore each other. I feed my lionfish live treats like ghost shrimps and mollies. I doubt your foxface is stressing out from his new tank mates.

I would suggest putting a rock with some nori tied to it near the area where the foxface hides. Might help him to eat until you can get the foxface feeding out of your hand.

The problem might also be the nitrates. Fish can do fine with 40 nitrates for a little while because nitrates generally slowly rise allowing the fish to adjust to the rising nitrates. Your foxface only had a few hours to go from 10 nitrates to 40 and is probably not enjoying it.

Where did I miss that the fish was coming from a tank with nitrates at 10ppm? Even if that is the case, that bump wouldn't even be noticed by the fish; IMO & IME. Nitrates at 40ppm in a FOWLR tank are perfectly acceptable long-term; again, IMO & IMO. There seem to be a few species that are bothered by high nitrates; but I have never seen any real study that says that nitrates, at any level, hurt fish. I'm not encouraging high nitrates (40ppm in a FOWLR tank isn't high), because high nitrates can indicate an underlying housekeeping problem. Bob Fenner, in The Conscience marine Aquarist, 1st ed., says fish have been kept, long-term, in water with nitrates in the 100's, even 1,000s ppm. With no ill effects. Inverts are another story. Just for fun: grab a sample of your LFS water, the nitrate level will probably shock you.

 

[bigfish520]

Foxfaces can be real timid at first, give it a couple weeks. Is the fish skinny? If it has some meat on its bones it will be fine without eating for a couple days.