[dsb1829]

How poisonous are these fish? Is it something to be concerned about? We are looking to get one for the 180g reef and would like to know your experience with these fish. Thanks

[Neal359]

no not at all its nothing like a lion fish. the owner of my lfs likes to pick then up with his hands when geting them out of the tank when he sels on because their spines can get cought in the net. but i am sur it dosent fell good when or if you ever get stung. their also very pesful fish and you wont have to wory about them herasing any other fish for the most part. their usualy on the other side of agresion (the one being herased) a very nice fish

[Bughead]

My foxface "Roger" is the most mild mannered fish in the world. Sometimes at night he'll stand and flare at his reflection in the glass, Tangy-Too (big powder blue) or Hippie (regal tang) will come by and he will immediately put down his spines, as if to say,"my beef isn't with you, it's with that other foxface".

Until 3 days ago I had a fiesty maroon clown in the tank that was at least 4 times smaller, but just terrorized Roger. Sometimes he'd flare and try to defend himself but usually he'd just go off and camoflauge himself behind a rock for a minute.

He's never flared at my hand when I put it in the tank and I've never felt his spines. I know of one person who was inadvertently stung by his foxface and he had to go to the emergency room because he turned out to be allergic to the venom. But I think this is a rare occurence. A foxface is a great fish, with very interesting habits and your likelyhood of being stung is rather remote, unless you're trying to catch him with your hand.

[petpoor]

Our Foxface is also very mild mannered, in fact too mild. In the last couple of days our Sohal tang is being a real a****** to him and he won't fight back just runs to hide. I got the foxface for a bubble algae problem boy did he eat some bubble algae! All in all he is a really neat fish, I wouldn't hesitate to get another one except the next one will be a one spot foxface.
Tom

[reptilicus]

G'day,
I've never personally been stung, however Iknow people who have and apparently it is fairly similar to a lion fish. There is a guy who owns a LFS near me who grew up on the reef in New Guinea and has been stung many times. He says it is very painful. Still, while it is pain, it's nothing dangerous, not fatal or anything, just painful. Hot water will break down fish venom fairly effectively. In any case, rabbitfish are very docile and it is not a worry to have them in the tank because they will not sting you, although as for that LFS guy who catches them in his hands, I don't know if I'd be game to do that!
Regards,
Tom

[chromis]

According to Bob Fenner, rabbitfishes in general are more venomous then lionfish.

Andrew

[Ironreef]

If your allergic it can be dangerous but rabbit fish are usually passive. My perc bites me when I get near its home but my fox goes to the otherside. When I feed it eats out of my hand and I can pet it.

[dsb1829]

Thanks for the replies. This one sounds like a keeper for the new reef. We even have some valonia all ready growing for it to feel right at home.