TankBud

Bicolor foxface

Siganus uspi

Also known as Fiji Foxface, Uspi Rabbitfish, Bicolored Foxface

SaltwaterFish

Bicolor foxface (Siganus uspi)
Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble · CC BY 2.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
9.4 in
24 cm
Minimum tank
124 gal
470 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Herbivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Siganidae
Origin
Fiji reefs, with rare strays recorded from New Caledonia

Overview

The bicolor foxface is a peaceful, reef-safe rabbitfish for a large saltwater tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The bicolor foxface is endemic to a single island group, so its supply depends entirely on Fijian collection seasons. It disappears from stores for months at a time, then turns up again.

Caring for the bicolor foxface

Give the bicolor foxface a tank of at least 124 gal (470 L), with live rock for grazing and open water for swimming. Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C), with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.

It is reef safe as long as it stays well fed on nori and marine algae. Hunger can push it to nip at soft corals.

Bicolor foxface are peaceful with other species. Like the rest of the genus, though, they will not tolerate another foxface or rabbitfish in the tank. Keep just one unless the system is very large.

It carries venomous dorsal, anal and pelvic spines. The sting is very painful, though rarely dangerous unless the person stung has an allergic reaction. Handle it carefully during any netting or maintenance work.

Good to know

Siganus uspi has a sharp two-tone pattern. The head and the front half of the body are dark brown to near black. Bright yellow takes over across the rear half and tail. It is scarcer in the hobby than most other rabbitfish.

In the wild

The bicolor foxface is endemic to Fiji's reefs, and only occasional strays turn up as far as New Caledonia. It keeps to shallow lagoon and reef habitat, grazing algae off rock, often paired up with a single mate.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The bicolor foxface is a peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a bicolor foxface need?

A bicolor foxface needs at least 124 gal (470 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a bicolor foxface need?

A bicolor foxface is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a bicolor foxface eat?

A bicolor foxface eats nori and marine algae. Keep it well fed, since hunger can push it to nip at soft corals.

How big does a bicolor foxface get?

An adult bicolor foxface reaches about 9.4 in (24 cm).

Related species