A highly hardy fish with a very distinctive body color, the foxface rabbitfish, also known as foxface, black-face rabbitfish, common foxface, and its scientific name Siganus vulpinus, is a perfect addition to the freshly constructed tank.
What is foxface rabbitfish ?
In the West Pacific Ocean, foxface rabbitfish can be found all the way from Indonesia to the Marshall and Gilbert islands, south to New Caledonia, and north to Taiwan. It can be found at depths of up to 30 meters in coral-rich lagoon and seaward reef habitats, frequently with staghorn corals.
Siganus vulpinus is typically less than 25 cm long, but in the wild, it can grow as long as 30 cm. Its unique coloring and protracted snout make it easily identifiable. The dorsal, ventral, caudal, and anal fins have a very vivid lemon yellow color; the caudal peduncle and the entire body, which is extremely compressed, flattened, and tall, are white. The dorsal portion of the snout is covered with black dots that extend from the head to the tip. The throat and cheeks are likewise covered in black dots, and a circular dot of the same color is present in the supero-posterior region of the back. Large and black eyes are present. When stressed or at night, it will turn a dark brown, so give it some time to adjust to its new environment before assuming its full color.
Although juveniles and subadults occasionally appear in vast schools among Acropora, they typically appear alone or in pairs. They feed on algae that grows on the dead bases of the coral branches. It has a laid-back personality and tends to regularly search the coral reefs and nearby ravines for food scraps. When it couples to reproduce, the social relationships with the other group members when it is gregarious become stressful; but, in other situations, it is rather sociable.
If a predator, such as a moray eel, attacks, it pretends to be dead, loses all color and turns grey with a black spot, then lies on the bottom and breaths slowly. By doing this, the predator stops attacking, and after a short while, everything returns to normal.
Foxface Rabbitfish Care
Foxface rabbitfish like swimming and needs a tank with at least 125 gallons of area, water that is 24 to 26 °C, 8.0 to 8.4 pH, and 1.020 to 1.024 specific gravity. If they are well-fed, it is usually reef-safe. If not, it’s likely that they will nibble on and eat some LPS and soft coral species.
The tank itself should have a good amount of hidden hiding spots in the form of rock formations and good filtration and circulation. If adding this species to a reef aquarium, be advised that some specimens, especially hungry ones, do have a liking for coral polyps.
Due to its poisonous spines providing it with natural protection, it is a very calm species and may be kept with more aggressive fish, however avoid keeping other rabbitfish as tank mates. This species is extremely poisonous, and its venom has the potential to be lethal in several situations. It is crucial to have as much knowledge as you can about the species and poison in case of poisoning. Take the appropriate precautions to safeguard your safety and the safety of others around you because different people can respond differently to poisons.
Foxface Rabbitfish Food
This species consumes frozen and live meals like mysis shrimp as well as dried seaweed (Nori sheets) and other marine algae like Caulerpa. It’s crucial to feed more frequently and add food rich in algae if there aren’t enough algae on the rocks. Its love of algae is one of its appeals to enthusiasts, and it will also keep your tank clean! Some soft and hard coral polyps are nibbled at, and they may even be eaten.
Foxface Rabbitfish Reproduction
There is little information on the reproductive of foxface rabbitfish in nature, and it does not occur in aquariums. The fish begin to form pairs when they are 10 cm long. These pairs are thought to remain together forever.
During the warmer months, when swiftly moving tidal currents meet with dawn and nightfall, they spawn in groups. They spawn during a normal lunar phase when they are around two years old and are mature. They are probably fish that live a long time. Although juveniles are never numerous, they resemble adults in appearance.
