Foxface

[Elliott Wright]

Hi,I would like to keep a foxface in my marine community tank but
i have heard their very prone to disease is this true
my tank contains a coral beauty, a blue starfish,a cleaner shrimp
and mushroom corals which are all doing well
any advice would be great many thanks

[BrianH]

What size tank do you have? Foxface can get to a decent size. You also ahould know that they are venemous. Besides that, they are excellent algae grazers so you would need to provide some nori or other seaweed to supplement their diet.

Brian

[Elliott Wright]

At the moment my tank is 4 foot long,is this big enough also will
it get along with my other fish and invertibrates i have blue starfish a cleaner shrimp mushroom corals and a coral beauty
dwarf angel. one last thing my friend told me foxface are very prone to marine whitespot is this true

thanks for your help

[kreblak]

Foxface are prone to disease for the same reasons that tangs are: they have very strict dietary requirements. If these requiremens are not met, the fish get sick. Foxface graze during the day. You can see them picking at algae constantly. They are the only fish that will eat bryopsis, and they are venemous, as Brian pointed out. They are beautiful fish, but not well suited for an unestablished tank.

[BrianH]

IMHO foxface are fine with the fish you mentioned and your tank should be big enough. If I remember correctly, the ones with the black dot, I think on their upper back, stay smaller than the ones without it. They are also a little skittish so make sure you have enough live rock for them to hide when needed.

Brian

[kreblak]

I knew I was leaving something out.... hiding spaces! All fish like 'em, the Foxface needs 'em.

[Elliott Wright]

Are foxfaces alright to keep in a reef tank with hardy soft corals

[BrianH]

They are fine for a reef tank.

Brian

[Elliott Wright]

thanks alot for great advice