Foxface blows bubbles

[dizzy]

My foxface is weird. He keeps going to the surface and sticking his mouth out of the water and sucking in air which he exhausts through his gills. I have seen plenty of fish do this when feeding off the surface, but he does it for the heck of it, like he is looking for food that isn't there. I feed the tank at least five times a day and he is fat as a tick. He breathes normal and I have had him in the tank for at least 3-years.

He also spends part of the grazing the live rock for food, but goes to the surface dozens of times a day. He creates these bubbles that end up floating on the surface and then my Regal angel goes up and tries to eat the bubbles. The regal ends up exhausting air through his gills as well. Has anyone else ever observed a foxface acting in this odd manner?

 

[ReefLion]

The normal guess for this behavior is that it is not getting enough oxygen for some reason. Seems to be a longshot though. Can you set up a digital camera to time lapse? Maybe see if he's doing it when you are not around. That would help with the feeding hypothesis.

Tim

 

[dizzy]

The normal guess for this behavior is that it is not getting enough oxygen for some reason. Seems to be a longshot though. Can you set up a digital camera to time lapse? Maybe see if he's doing it when you are not around. That would help with the feeding hypothesis.

Tim

Tim,

I am quite certain the foxface is breathing normally and getting plenty of O2. I actually think it is spoiled to being fed so often that it thinks anytime it goes to the surface and opens its mouth food will go in. I am convinced it is either hoping for food or just playing with the bubbles. It is sort of humorous to watch the Regal chase the bubbles the foxface creates, and then the rest of the fish begin to think maybe I just fed again. The fish get along great and I do prefer to watch playing over fighting.

 

[Anonymous]

dizzy-

just an addition to foxface behavior-i've had some repeatedly spit water onto my hands when working on the tank top.

 

[Lynn]

dizzy, I think your foxface is just acting like a rabbitfish!! Mine does the samething! usually after a meal! If he was a human, I'd swear he was rinsing his mouth! I've read lots of posts where owners have stated this. Mine also tries to catch the bubbles that he has pushed through his gills! I think he's playing when he does that!
I have a huge (mag 24) on my tank, the oxygen level must be quite high as the surface turbulance is alot... I doubt he is lacking oxygen.

 

[Anonymous]

For a minute there I thought that you were gonna say that your damsel's name was Bubbles.

 

[Baalz]

My rabbit "doliatus" does this as well.. likes to gulp air. Does this while eating flake as well.