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
Diet
Herbivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Siganidae
Origin
Eastern Indian Ocean reefs, from Thailand to Java

Overview

The magnificent foxface is a peaceful, boldly patterned rabbitfish for a large reef tank. It is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The magnificent foxface has swung enormously in price over the decades. It sold as a rarity for hundreds of dollars in the late 1990s. It is more available today, but a fully colored-up adult still commands a premium over most other foxface.

Caring for the magnificent foxface

Plan for a tank of at least 124 gal (470 L), with plenty of live rock for the magnificent foxface to graze. Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C), with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.

Offer plenty of nori and marine algae alongside prepared foods. It is reef safe when well fed, since a hungry foxface is more likely to sample soft corals.

It is peaceful with other species but territorial with its own kind and other rabbitfish. Keep just one per tank unless the system is very large.

Like other rabbitfish, it carries venomous spines across its dorsal, anal and pelvic fins. A sting causes sharp, lasting pain and swelling. Use a container rather than your hands when moving it, and take care during tank maintenance if it is nearby.

Good to know

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

In the wild

Magnificent foxface come from a fairly narrow stretch of the eastern Indian Ocean, from Thailand's coast down to Java. That narrow range 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.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The 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.

What does a magnificent foxface eat?

A magnificent foxface eats plenty of nori and marine algae alongside prepared foods. Keep it well fed, since a hungry one is more likely to sample soft corals.

How big does a magnificent foxface get?

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

Related species