Are One Spot Rabbitfish reef safe?

[Jyetman]

I hear so many mixed info on these guys are they known to eat all types of soft corals? I'm fed up hand removing grape caulerpa from my DT and hope he is the solution. If he eats all the algae will he go after my duncans, xenia, zoas and CB shrimp? My LFS is having a sale on these guys they are under 3" from what I was told. I read the min tank size is 80 gallons which is what I have. Also have a skinny Kole tang.

Any recommendations would be great.

[ReefWreak]

I had one for about 5 years in my old tank who never (noticeably) bothered any corals, including zoanthids, soft corals, or LPS (I think I only had candycane/trumpet corals). It was a good algae eater, and didn't bother my cleaner shrimp.

Before buying, consider that they have poisonous spines, just something to think about. I'm surprised the Kole tang doesn't eat the algae.

[Jyetman]

Originally Posted by ReefWreak

I had one for about 5 years in my old tank who never (noticeably) bothered any corals, including zoanthids, soft corals, or LPS (I think I only had candycane/trumpet corals). It was a good algae eater, and didn't bother my cleaner shrimp.

Before buying, consider that they have poisonous spines, just something to think about. I'm surprised the Kole tang doesn't eat the algae.

Yea I read about their poisonous spines kinda simular to the lionfish. Others say they shy away when hands are put in the tank I be okay with that. I've caught the Kole tang trying to nibble at the caulurpa but seems to have a problem eating it not sure why though.

[mako61]

My tank is kinda new 4 months. Mine is a model fish he nibbles on my rocks all day. I have polyps, zoas , acans, euphyllia. He never messes with them.

He also never messes with other fish, he will flex his spines if anyone messes with him. He is a scaredy cat when im close to / working with the tank. He goes camo in the rocks with most any movement. I think the chance of getting stung is very low unless you mess directly with him.

Mine would not eat nori off a clip at first. I rubber banded a piece to rock in his fav area and he started eating that. Then I moved him to a clip. I feed a strip ( 1/4ish sheet) of nori once/twice daily. Mine still nibbles the rocks even if nori is in the tank.


Note: I feed a good bit, but mine has grow a lot in just a couple months. So I would say smaller the better.

[Blizzard 123]

I haven't had mine for long but the mushroom coral I have he has never touched it. I would not worry about spikes too much they are very skittish and when you put your hands in your tank he will go run and hide to his area. I stick my hands in every night to feed eel I never get even close to him. Just my short personal experience with them.

[Blizzard 123]

If you do get stung it is like a bee sting and if your not allergic to bees just run it under hot water. The only poisonous spines are the top 3.

[karimwassef]

Rabbitfish are complete vegan... only eat algae and plants

I recommend the two bar over the one spot. They are more ravenous and their mouth is more adapted to caulerpa...

[mako61]

Originally Posted by karimwassef

Rabbitfish are complete vegan... only eat algae and plants

I recommend the two bar over the one spot. They are more ravenous and their mouth is more adapted to caulerpa...

My one spot eats anything I put in the tank. I mostly do frozen food Mysis, Reef Frenzy and such. He is very much a pig.

[karimwassef]

Originally Posted by mako61

My one spot eats anything I put in the tank. I mostly do frozen food Mysis, Reef Frenzy and such. He is very much a pig.

I've never seen them eat live meat. They may confuse mysis or other small foods but I've put raw clam, raw shrimp - never touched it.

My hippo eats raw meats with relish.

[Sk8r]

One developed a taste for green hammer coral at our lfs. If you have him in 100 gallons, he should be ok for a while. They can do in other fish if cornered and spooked. And definitely do not pick up rocks when you don't know where he is: he goes camo and plasters himself sideways to the bottom of rocks...Sort of one of those fish where, if you do not have an eye on him, be very, very careful. I've seen a guy close to losing a thumb from a rabbit sting.

[CAPT_Dave]

I have one. Model citizen but if he'd eat Xenia I'd make him tank president.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[Jyetman]

Just bought a 3" one spot foxface acclimating him now. Hope he does well.

[karimwassef]

Pics!

[Jyetman]

He acclimated perfectly. Immediately afterwards his colors are bright and is picking at the variety of algae on the live rock along with my Rainfordi goby.

Here are some pics
https://www.dropbox.com/s/iuorb060d3..._5928.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/apjmji00a0..._5926.JPG?dl=0

[karimwassef]

You can post in the thread... don't make us click like animals

[Jyetman]

Lets see if posting pictures are working for me now.

[Jyetman]

Nope the insert pictures does not work how are you doing this? I'm using the Reef Central website on Windows 10 - MS Edge are you using a phone app?

[karimwassef]

ha ha.. now it stopped working for me too. let me try again

looks very pretty and healthy by the way.

[Jyetman]

Update

Three days with my new foxface he is being occasionally pestered by my coral beauty. On the second day he started to erect his dorsal fins and swim backwards when provoked. So it seems the coral beauty is becoming not so interested in him. Delighted to see him ripping at the pesky macro algae he still has me worried. He has been just hovering in spots at times not swimming much even caught him hosting a small patch of green star polyps. Took a closer look at him today and notice these 2" clear see through web like mucus strands attached to his rear tail. He also had what look like two tiny white cotton balls on his side fin which strangely disappeared after 30 minutes even the clear mucus is gone. Weird thought he had ich not sure what to think? Is this all normal for a newly introduced rabbitfish?

[Jyetman]

Whenever I introduce a new fish I always turn on my UV for several weeks just to be on the safe side.

[mako61]

Mine flexes his spines when others mess with him. My Tang is the only one that doesnt stay away. Mine hovers around, then he will zip across the tank. Kinda of a spaz.
He also swims/hovers head up almost vertical moving his mouth, looks weird. At first I thought he was sick / breathing hard, but he has been doing it since I added him 2+ months ago. Im hoping its just him.