TankBud

Two-barred rabbitfish

Siganus virgatus

Also known as Double-barred Rabbitfish, Two-barred Spinefoot, Barhead Spinefoot, Silver Rabbitfish

SaltwaterFish

Two-barred rabbitfish (Siganus virgatus)
Amada44 · CC BY-SA 3.0

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
Diet
Omnivore
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

The two-barred rabbitfish is a peaceful reef fish and a strong algae eater. It suits a large saltwater tank and is easy to keep.

Did you know

The two-barred rabbitfish copes with murky, silty inshore and estuarine water that would stress most reef fish. That tolerance makes it unusually hardy.

Caring for the two-barred rabbitfish

Give the two-barred rabbitfish a tank of at least 119 gal (450 L), with open swimming room and algae to graze. It swims mostly in the middle of the tank. Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.

It is an omnivore with a strong lean toward plant foods. Offer nori, spirulina, algae wafers and prepared herbivore foods once or twice a day. Keep it well fed, because a hungry fish may nip large-polyp stony and soft corals. In a reef tank, treat it as reef safe with caution.

The two-barred rabbitfish is safe with community fish and very peaceful, except toward other rabbitfish. Keep only one rabbitfish unless the tank is very large. Mind its venomous spines whenever you work in the tank.

Good to know

Siganus virgatus belongs to the family Siganidae. Its silvery-yellow body is crossed by two dark bars over the head and shoulder. Its dorsal, anal and pelvic spines are venomous, as in its relatives, and it raises them in defense. It is also sold as the double-barred rabbitfish, two-barred spinefoot, barhead spinefoot or silver rabbitfish.

In the wild

The two-barred rabbitfish lives in the Indo-West Pacific, from the eastern Indian Ocean to the western Pacific. It works coastal and silty inshore reefs, grazing algae through the day.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

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.

What does a two-barred rabbitfish eat?

A two-barred rabbitfish is an omnivore that eats mostly plant foods. Offer it nori, spirulina, algae wafers and prepared herbivore foods once or twice a day.

How big does a two-barred rabbitfish get?

An adult two-barred rabbitfish reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).

Related species