Two-barred rabbitfish
Siganus virgatus
Also known as Double-barred Rabbitfish, Two-barred Spinefoot, Barhead Spinefoot, Silver Rabbitfish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 11.8 in
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 119 gal
- 450 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Siganidae
- Origin
- Indo-West Pacific from the eastern Indian Ocean to the western Pacific, on coastal and silty inshore reefs.
Overview
Provide a 450 litre or larger tank with open swimming room and algae to graze at 24 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4. It is peaceful and a strong algae-eater, but it may nip large-polyp stony and soft corals if underfed, so keep it well fed and treat reef safety as caution. Offer nori, spirulina, algae wafers and prepared herbivore foods once or twice a day. Keep only one rabbitfish unless the tank is very large, and mind the venomous spines when working in the tank.
In the wild
The two-barred rabbitfish has a silvery-yellow body crossed by two dark bars over the head and shoulder. It works coastal and silty inshore reefs, grazing algae through the day. It is very peaceful except toward other rabbitfish. Like its relatives it carries venomous fin spines.
Good to know
Siganus virgatus reaches about 30 cm and tolerates the murky inshore and estuarine water that many reef fish avoid. Its dorsal, anal and pelvic spines are venomous and raised in defense. It is an omnivore that leans strongly herbivorous.
Did you know
It copes with silty, brackish-influenced inshore water that would stress most reef fish, which makes it unusually hardy.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Two-barred 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.
Tiger / strawberry conch
Conomurex luhuanus
Saltwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Pearly jawfish
Opistognathus aurifrons
Saltwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Skunk cleaner shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Sebae mono
Monodactylus sebae
BrackishSaltwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Ring cowrie
Monetaria annulus
Saltwater1.2 in (3 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)
Common questions
What size tank does a Two-barred rabbitfish need?
A Two-barred rabbitfish needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Two-barred rabbitfish need?
A Two-barred rabbitfish is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a Two-barred rabbitfish get?
An adult Two-barred rabbitfish reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).
Related species
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)75 gal (285 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Foxface rabbitfish
Siganus vulpinus
9.4 in (24 cm) · 75 gal (285 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)
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)
16.9 in (43 cm)125 gal (473 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Goldline rabbitfish
Siganus lineatus
16.9 in (43 cm) · 125 gal (473 L)