Bicolor Foxface

Care at a glance

Overview

Bicolor foxface are peaceful with other species but, like the rest of the genus, won't tolerate other foxface or rabbitfish sharing the tank, so keep it alone unless the system is very large. It's reef safe as long as it's kept well fed on nori and marine algae, since hunger can push it to nip at soft corals. It carries venomous dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines; the sting is very painful, though rarely dangerous unless the person stung has an allergic reaction, so handle this fish carefully during any netting or maintenance work.

In the wild

The bicolor foxface is endemic to Fiji's reefs, with only occasional strays turning 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. A tank of at least 470 litres (125 US gal) suits it well, with live rock for grazing and open water for swimming.

Good to know

Siganus uspi shows a sharp two-tone pattern, dark brown to near black across the front half of the body and head, giving way to bright yellow across the rear half and tail. Because it's restricted to Fiji's waters, collection is limited and seasonal, and the species is genuinely scarcer in the hobby than most other rabbitfish.

Did you know

Because it's endemic to a single island group, bicolor foxface supply depends entirely on Fijian collection seasons, so it periodically disappears from stores for months before turning up again.

Related species

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  Foxface Rabbitfish

  Siganus vulpinus

  9.4 in (24 cm)75 gal (285 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Barred Rabbitfish

  Siganus doliatus

  9.8 in (25 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Magnificent Foxface

  Siganus magnificus

  9.1 in (23 cm)124 gal (470 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  One-Spot Foxface

  Siganus unimaculatus

  7.9 in (20 cm)70 gal (265 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Two-barred Rabbitfish

  Siganus virgatus

  11.8 in (30 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Lamarck's Angelfish

  Genicanthus lamarck

  9.8 in (25 cm)124 gal (470 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)