TankBud

Foxface rabbitfish

Siganus vulpinus

Also known as Foxface, Fox Face Lo, Common Foxface

SaltwaterFish

Foxface rabbitfish (Siganus vulpinus)
Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPR · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°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
Easy
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Siganidae
Origin
Western Pacific, from Indonesia and the Philippines east through Micronesia and around the Great Barrier Reef

Overview

The foxface rabbitfish is a hardy, peaceful grazer for a large saltwater tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The foxface rabbitfish flips within seconds from bright yellow to a blotchy brown camouflage pattern. It does this when it feels threatened or settles down for the night, then switches back to full color once it relaxes.

Caring for the foxface rabbitfish

Give the foxface rabbitfish a large system of at least 124 gal (470 L), with open swimming room. Add rock it can graze and hide in. Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C), with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.

It is a mostly herbivorous grazer that picks filamentous algae off rock, which makes it an excellent natural algae control. Feed it plenty of greens such as nori, along with algae-based prepared foods. Reef keepers rate it caution, since it usually ignores corals but can nip soft corals, zoanthids and LPS polyps. That is most likely when it is underfed, so keep it well supplied with greens.

It is peaceful toward other species but squabbles with its own kind, so keep one per tank unless the system is very large. Handle it with care, because the spines are venomous.

Good to know

Siganus vulpinus is a rabbitfish in the family Siganidae. Its dorsal, pelvic and anal spines carry venom glands and can deliver a painful sting. It uses them as a defensive weapon when threatened.

In the wild

The foxface rabbitfish comes from the western Pacific, from Indonesia and the Philippines east through Micronesia and around the Great Barrier Reef. It lives on coral-rich lagoon and outer reefs. Juveniles usually stay among branching corals, while adults range more widely over the reef. It works hard surfaces and rubble for filamentous algae through the day and shelters in the reef structure at night.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The foxface rabbitfish 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 foxface rabbitfish need?

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

What temperature and pH does a foxface rabbitfish need?

A foxface rabbitfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a foxface rabbitfish eat?

A foxface rabbitfish is a mostly herbivorous grazer. Feed it plenty of greens such as nori, along with algae-based prepared foods.

How big does a foxface rabbitfish get?

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

Related species