Pale Foxfaces

[Liquid]

Hi,

I visted a couple of LFS's tonight and saw about 3-4 different foxfaces. All of them seemed to be really pale and faded from their usual coloration. I know this is relatively common if the fish aren't feeling well or if they are otherwise stressed, but is it possible that all of them were this way or is there something else that could explain it? The normal coloration is bright yellow, clear white, and dark black right?

 

[smcnally]

The normal coloration is bright yellow, clear white, and dark black right?

Yep, AFAIK...Did you take acid tonight? jk Maybe it has to do with the season or moon phase or something creepy like that...

 

[Liquid]

Nope, no acid taken. Any other ideas? Is this a frequent characteristic of the species?

 

[mloebl]

I believe there is a few different types; yellow w/ spot, yellow without spot, some with brownish colorations... Howerver I have a yellow with black spot, and if it's scared, it will color shift *very* quickly to marbled brown. It can also do this on part of it's body. The other thing I've noticed is that depending on where it feeds, it shifts colors. On the bottom of the tank it tends to be yellower, but I've noticed if it feeds near the top a bit while grazing, it's top will actually brown quite a bit for several seconds.

-Mike

 

[jovreef]

Yea...there are different color foxface's ... are you sure they are not one of the other colored ones? There is a dusky brownish yellow one...maybe they got that kind in?

 

[ReeferMedic]

IME, Foxfaces lose their color very easily when stressed in the least bit.

 

[Liquid]

Yea...there are different color foxface's ... are you sure they are not one of the other colored ones? There is a dusky brownish yellow one...maybe they got that kind in?

If you're talking about magnificent foxface or bicolor foxface, these were not those. These were either regular foxface lo's or 1 spot foxface lo's.

IME, Foxfaces lose their color very easily when stressed in the least bit.

This is what I was thinking. Based upon this, would you hestitate to purchase a foxface that was pale? I think most reefers try to avoid purchasing stressed fish if possible, but perhaps with this species it is okay? Anyone have any opinions?

 

[ReeferMedic]

This is what I was thinking. Based upon this, would you hestitate to purchase a foxface that was pale? I think most reefers try to avoid purchasing stressed fish if possible, but perhaps with this species it is okay? Anyone have any opinions?

This is the reason I don't like them. Stressed fish create problems with disease, IME, IMO. I had one that was stressed the whole time I had it, it never colored up.

 

[Liquid]

Thanks for the feedback. Anyone else have any experiences?

 

[KAS2]

We had a foxface for a while. It would be pale every morning, and whenever someone put their hand in the tank or another fish got the least bit aggressive. It's a very skittish species. If you don't overpopulate the tank, and you feed it well, you'll do fine.

 

[nickyblase]

I've got one in my FO with a koran, picasso trigger, and a couple damsels and he does fine. He's mottled in the morning, then colors up when the lights come on.

He was BRIGHT yellow when I got him though, and the LFS had him for a good month before I took him home, so I knew he had adjusted okay.

 

[jovreef]

ok...well if its not another type of foxface then yes...they are very VERY easy to change to stress color...sleeping, quick movements anything! They are really hardy though... I'd not worry about getting one.