TankBud

Magnificent foxface

Siganus magnificus

Also known as Magnificent Rabbitfish, Andaman Foxface, Red Fin Foxface

SaltwaterFish

Magnificent foxface (Siganus magnificus)
Karelj · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
9.1 in
23 cm
Minimum tank
124 gal
470 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Siganidae
Origin
Eastern Indian Ocean reefs, from Thailand to Java

Overview

This foxface is peaceful with other species but territorial with its own kind and other rabbitfish, so keep just one per tank unless the system is very large. It's reef safe when well fed, since a hungry foxface is more likely to sample soft corals. Offer plenty of nori and marine algae alongside prepared foods. Like other rabbitfish it carries venomous spines across its dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins; a sting causes sharp, lasting pain and swelling, so use a container rather than your hands when moving this fish, and take care during tank maintenance if it's nearby.

In the wild

Magnificent foxface come from a fairly narrow stretch of the eastern Indian Ocean, from Thailand's coast down to Java, which makes them scarcer in the trade than most other foxface species. They live in shallow reef lagoons, often in pairs, grazing algae from rock and rubble. Plan for at least 470 litres (125 US gal) with plenty of live rock to graze.

Good to know

Siganus magnificus is one of the more strikingly patterned rabbitfish, with a white head split by a black band through the eye and a body divided sharply between white and dark brown, trimmed in yellow or red along the fins. That bold, high-contrast pattern is where the common name comes from.

Did you know

Prices for this fish have swung enormously over the decades: it sold as a rarity for hundreds of dollars in the late 1990s, and while it's more available today, a fully colored-up adult still commands a premium over most other foxface.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Magnificent 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 Magnificent foxface need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Magnificent foxface need?

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

How big does a Magnificent foxface get?

An adult Magnificent foxface reaches about 9.1 in (23 cm).

Related species