Foxface LO... nipping

[reefnut]

I know many people keep the foxface w/o problems... as I did for some time... but I watched him nip at a green slimmer tonight. He nipped off polyps and shaved the corallite smooth in several places. All I can think of is I'm not feeding him enough... and I feed quite a bit. Is this a hunger problem?? and after they start nipping, will they allways nip?? He's a great fish, good algae eater & always been a model tank mate so I would hate to get rid of him...
Thanks,

 

[reefnut]

^^^^

 

[nm reef]

Don't know what to tell you except....if mine developed a taste for corals I'd have to consider moving him. So far its not been a issue with mine...but I have heard a few complaints about them.:thinking:

 

[gregm779]

I've one in my reef tanks for about 8 months now, never had a problem at all but I do believe that if they start they will continue. I feed my fish daily and will always do so unless it starts to impact my system. Good Luck

 

[reb]

I had one in my tank for over 6 months and never had a problem. Nothing including feedings have changed but over the last month he has been nipping at my brain coral. He won't stop and I can't catch him.

 

[jamnman]

Mine kept eating my zoos.

 

[reefnut]

Thanks everyone... looks like I will be finding him a new home if it happens again

 

[ophiura]

Hate to say it but I agree that once it starts, it will keep doing it. They just aren't picky about what they are eating...generally more herbivorous but not exclusively. One I had experience with nipped about a dozen large clams to death :nope:

 

[reefnut]

I seen him again last night nipping at the same coral... about 1/2 hour after feeding him. Seems he has grown a taste for the slimmer... but I haven't seen him bother any other coral??
I'll be finding him a new home

 

[reefnut]

Yet again I watch him nipping at the same coral tonight... so I took him out. He will QT until a new home is found.
I went back on old posts from here and figure out I had him 1 year and 6 days before he started nipping. Sure wish I knew why...

 

[reefnut]

The rest of the story.......
Well I put the FF in my 55g until I found him a home. Some time had passed and in the mean time the Green Slimmer RTNed due to some flow changes in the tank. Well I decided to give the FF another chance. So far, I have not seen him touch any of the other corals... I have my fingers crossed he will do fine now the GS is gone...

 

[jayc]

Cool!

I'm prombly going to get one for my soon to be reef aquarium. I hope it doesnt do like yours did. It seems like I've heard more stories of them doing well in a reef aquarium, than I have of them not.