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    Rabbitfish

    Foxface rabbitfish

    Siganus vulpinus

    Also sold as Foxface lo

    Foxface rabbitfish (Siganus vulpinus), photographed in the sea or an aquarium
    Photo: Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
    Care level
    Beginner
    Adult size
    22.9 cm in aquariums
    Minimum tank
    473 litres
    Temperament
    Mostly peaceful
    With corals
    Reef safe with caution
    Captive-bred
    Wild-caught (captive-bred rare)
    IUCN status
    Least Concern
    Show volumes in

    How do you care for the foxface rabbitfish?

    Peaceful except to other rabbitfish.

    Feeding

    Herbivore.

    Seaweed daily.

    Tank and special needs

    Plan for at least 473 litres of water (the care sheet says 125 US gallons).

    Venomous dorsal spines: handle with care.

    Why this care level

    Hardy, but needs a large tank.

    Corals and invertebrates

    Some LPS and soft coral polyps, especially if underfed.

    Which tankmates suit the foxface rabbitfish?

    One rabbitfish per tank.

    Suggested order in a mixed tank: add after the first peaceful fish.

    More than one foxface rabbitfish

    Keep one foxface rabbitfish: two of the same species usually fight.

    Other fish

    Checked against the other 59 fish in this guide, assuming a tank big enough for both. Individual fish differ, so treat this as a starting point.

    Usually fine together (59)

    Invertebrates

    Only the invertebrates with a known risk are listed.

    Take care (2)

    • Tiger tail sea cucumberA stressed or dead tiger tail sea cucumber can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.
    • Sea appleA stressed or dead sea apple can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.

    Corals and anemones

    Only the corals and anemones with a known risk are listed.

    Take care (31)

    • ZoanthidsFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • PalythoaFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Mushroom coralFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Hairy mushroomFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Florida ricordeaFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Yuma ricordeaFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Toadstool leatherFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Finger leatherFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • XeniaFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Pulsing xeniaFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Waving hand coralFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Green star polypsFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Clove polypsFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Kenya treeFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
    • Hammer coralFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • Frogspawn coralFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • Torch coralFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • Duncan coralFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • AcanFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • FaviaFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • FavitesFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • Chalice coralFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • BlastomussaFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • Candy cane coralFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • Bubble coralFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • GonioporaFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • AlveoporaFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • Open brain coralFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • LoboFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • GalaxeaFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.
    • Scroll coralFoxface rabbitfish may nip LPS corals, more so when underfed.

    These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

    Quarantine and health

    Hardy.

    New fish are the most common way disease gets into a reef tank. Quarantine every fish in a separate tank before it joins the display, and choose a method that suits its tolerance of copper.

    Captive-bred or wild?

    Wild-caught.

    What does it cost in the UK?

    about £60. This is one UK retailer’s listing on 21 October 2026, not a market average, and every item was sold out on that day. Label assumed to be S. vulpinus.

    Sources

    1. LiveAquaria (US retailer) care sheetRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: stats.
    2. FishBase species summaryRead 21 October 2026, search summary only. Used for: max length.
    3. Kraken Corals (UK retailer) catalogueRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: UK price.

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