Goldline rabbitfish
Siganus lineatus
Also known as Golden-Lined Spinefoot, Goldlined Rabbitfish, Goldspot Spinefoot, Lined Rabbitfish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 16.9 in
- 43 cm
- Minimum tank
- 125 gal
- 473 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Siganidae
- Origin
- Indo-West Pacific, Maldives to Vanuatu
Overview
The goldline rabbitfish is a hardy, peaceful grazer for a big saltwater tank. It is a step up from the easiest saltwater fish.
Did you know
The goldline rabbitfish is one of the few large reef herbivores raised in hatcheries at scale. The Palau facility that supplies the trade has released more than one hundred thousand extra juveniles onto local reefs.
Caring for the goldline rabbitfish
The goldline rabbitfish is fast-growing and eventually needs a spacious, long tank with open swimming lanes. Give it at least 125 gal (473 L). Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C), with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.
This herbivore grazes all day, so keep it well fed. Treat it as reef safe with caution, since an underfed fish may start sampling soft corals and fleshy LPS.
It is peaceful with unrelated species but can squabble with other rabbitfish. Breeding it is hard.
Good to know
The goldline rabbitfish has a pale blue body covered in fine golden lines and dots. A bright yellow blotch, about the size of the eye, sits below the last dorsal rays. Like those of all rabbitfish, its fin spines carry venom.
In the wild
The goldline rabbitfish lives around lagoons and coastal reefs of the Indo-West Pacific, from the Maldives east to Vanuatu. Juveniles pack into mangroves and estuary seagrass, then move out to the reef. There, adults gather in schools that can number in the thousands.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The goldline 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.
Skunk cleaner shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Tiger / strawberry conch
Conomurex luhuanus
Saltwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Melanurus wrasse
Halichoeres melanurus
Saltwater5.5 in (14 cm) · 100 gal (380 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Pyramid butterflyfish
Hemitaurichthys polylepis
Saltwater7.1 in (18 cm) · 124 gal (470 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Fire shrimp
Lysmata debelius
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Ring cowrie
Monetaria annulus
Saltwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a goldline rabbitfish need?
A goldline rabbitfish needs at least 125 gal (473 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a goldline rabbitfish need?
A goldline rabbitfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a goldline rabbitfish eat?
A goldline rabbitfish is a fast-growing herbivore that grazes all day. Keep it well fed, since an underfed one may start sampling soft corals and fleshy LPS.
How big does a goldline rabbitfish get?
An adult goldline rabbitfish reaches about 16.9 in (43 cm).
Related species
15.7 in (40 cm)120 gal (454 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Dusky rabbitfish
Siganus fuscescens
15.7 in (40 cm) · 120 gal (454 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Two-barred rabbitfish
Siganus virgatus
11.8 in (30 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Barred rabbitfish
Siganus doliatus
9.8 in (25 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
9.4 in (24 cm)124 gal (470 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Bicolor foxface
Siganus uspi
9.4 in (24 cm) · 124 gal (470 L)
9.4 in (24 cm)124 gal (470 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Foxface rabbitfish
Siganus vulpinus
9.4 in (24 cm) · 124 gal (470 L)
9.1 in (23 cm)124 gal (470 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Magnificent foxface
Siganus magnificus
9.1 in (23 cm) · 124 gal (470 L)