Nipping Foxface

[Teddynola]

We placed our new One Spot Foxface in the DT about two weeks ago, and a few days ago we started noticing that the Wellso was beginning to shrink. After some observation, it appears out Foxface has quite a taste for the brain. I guess we should have named him Dr. Lecter! It doesn't appear that he has an affinity to any other corals, but I don't trust him. I've restricted his access to the brain, but I don't know what to do now. Should we cut our losses and rehome him, or do we try to give him another chance with the brain in a week or so? Here are some pics of the damage.

[Doomed]

I had the same problem a while back. Once he's tasted it he won't leave it alone. You'll probably have to get rid of one or the other. Good luck!

[Agu]

If it were my tank I'd be posting "Fish for Sale".

That's a beautiful Trachyphyllia radiata and your foxface could easily kill it. After it's gone you don't know what it'll nip at next. IMHO cut your losses and get rid of the foxface.

If you bought it locally your LFS should give you full price store credit if you return it healthy. (A good reason to buy locally.) If you bought it online expect to take a hit on price.

In either case please be ethical and inform the person getting the fish that it nips at corals.

[Teddynola]

Thanks Doomed and Agu, although he has not seemed to nip at anything else, I've got some other lps that I'm kind of attached to and would hate to lose anything else. The trachyphyllia (thanks Agu, for the ID, I couldn't remember what I was told when I bought it), doesn't have too much damage, I think it will come back just fine. Gonna call the lfs on Tuesday to see if they will take him back.

[IamLoki]

Yes, I have a Foxface that I got about 2 months ago to rid of a Grape Caulerpa problem, and it too has a taste for my brain coral now that the Caulerpa is gone. I too have the brain locked up from the Foxface.

I only planned on keeping this fish about 6 month to make sure it got all the Caulerpa out, but it may go a lot sooner. Anyone have an idea if the Caulerpa would come back? I don't see any runners or sprouts, but I am worred that there may be little bits still in the rock.