Fox fish are poisonous. The foxfish is named after its resemblance to a fox. The spines on its dorsal and anal fins are sharp and poisonous. When it encounters danger, it will erect its poisonous back spines to keep enemies away. These back spines can cause severe pain when pricked in the finger.

Fox fish are easy to raise and have a gentle temperament. They only need to feed algae plants when feeding. Be careful when fishing for foxfish, as it is timid and will appear in suspended animation when frightened.