Please help with foxface...

[Mike&Pam]

We recently purchased a foxface from our reliable LFS. Since we've had him, he's had a dark black shading along his back. Is that normal? or should we be worried? He's eating and behaving normally, with the exception of the stripe. I would enclose a picture, but can't figure out how...sorry.

Pam

 

[TooBad]

It's normal for a foxface to change it's color. It will happen whenever it startled and trying to hide. Check it out at night sometime.

 

[Mike&Pam]

He has the black stripe all the time...not just when scared. There are plenty of places to hide in our 90-gal, but he does not hide at all. Also, at night, he tends to hide with the others and we can't check him out then.

 

[Stark]

It’s a common response to stress. I’ve had a foxface for over three years, and I’m familiar their habit of darkening their dorsal aspect. They’re a very skittish fish, and it took mine weeks before it relaxed and ‘lightened up’. They’re a venomous fish, and I suspect the dark coloration is used to draw attention to the bright yellow poisonous dorsal spines. In my experience, this is often accompanied by the repeated flashing of the dorsal fin. I’ve always taken this to be a warning display.
Although easily spooked, they seem pretty disease resistant. I wouldn’t worry about your fish’s health. It should settle down and color back up in time.

 

[Ben1]

To post a pic just load it on your comp from you dig. camera. The transfer the file to a web pic host. Web Shots is a free one from excite.

The go to where your picture is on the web, right click your mouse, chose properties, copy the http: address of the pic.

The when you post here click on the image icon next to the smilys in the "post a reply" section. Then paste the http when it prompts you, that easy. HTH

sorry no advise on you foxface,