Rabbitfish

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Magnificent Foxface Rabbitfish

The Magnificent Foxface Rabbitfish doesn't seem to be as common as some of the other rabbitfish species but it is just as hardy. The Foxface Rabbitfish can tolerate a varying range of water parameters and may be a good saltwater beginner fish. They do have venomous dorsal spines so you'll need to use caution when using a net to catch them. They can easily get tangled in the net and if that happens gently move the net back and forth in the tank until they relax their fins. Better yet, chase them into a plastic container with the net. Then you don't have to worry about getting them caught in the net.
In the wild these Rabbitfish are often found swimming in pairs but it is not advisable to keep multiple rabbit fish in the home aquarium. Other than other rabbitfish, they should get along with most other fish species, even the more aggressive ones. The more aggressive fish should respect those venomous spines.

They primarily eat algae and having lots of live rock in your aquarium will help make them comfortable, provide them with grazing opportunities and hiding places. Magnificent Foxfaces are not very picky when it comes to fish food and should accept most foods that you give them. Try to give them a varied diet of live, frozen, freeze-dried and vitamin-enriched flake foods. Use a veggie clip with marine seaweed every other day or so. Many believe that this fish is reef tank safe, but if you don't keep it fed it may nip at corals and invertebrates.

They appear to be resistant to most saltwater fish disease but it's wise to be careful and use a quarantine tank before introducing them into your main tank. After they've been in quarantine for two weeks or so and you notice no signs of illness and they are eating well, you can acclimate them into your display tank.

One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish

The One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish is a member of the Rabbitfishes and can be a good choice for a saltwater beginner with a large enough tank. This does not mean that you can put them into a new tank still going through the aquarium nitrogen cycle. One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish look very similar to Siganus vulpinus, the more common foxface rabbitfish, but this fish has a dark spot or "blotch" towards the tail.
The dorsal fins on this fish are venomous so we need to handle them with care. Be careful when netting them so that their fins don't get caught in the net. If this happens, gently move the net slowly back and forth until the fish relaxes the fins and you can release it into the tank. Seek medical attention if the venomous fins puncture your skin.

Foxface Rabbitfish should play nicely with other fish but will probably not tolerate other rabbitfish in the same tank. You may be able to keep multiples (especially if they are of the opposite sex) in very large tanks. However, given their potential adult size of 8 inches (20 cm) and their intolerance of their own kind in the cramped confines of most home aquariums, you should probably plan on keeping only one of them in your aquarium.

This rabbitfish primarily feeds on marine algae and having lots of live rock in your tank will provide plenty of grazing opportunities in between meals. Try to give them a varied diet and supplement their diet with marine seaweed using a veggie clip. Reef tank keepers may not want them in their reef tanks because they may nip at some corals.

One Spot Rabbitfish seem to be fairly fish disease resistant but you still need to take proper pre-cautions and use a quarantine tank before introducing them into your main tank. Keep them in the hospital tank for two weeks or so and watch for obvious saltwater diseases, like marine ich.

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