spotlight on the rabbitfish

[felinxo]

Fish of the week

Rabbitfish

What's the deal with Rabbitfish being so under the radar in our tanks? Many are reef safe, and they're like a free cleaning crew for nuisance algae.

Anyone got some hands-on experience and pics to share?

[flame9x]

I'm a huge fan of foxface, they're amazing. Seffie, great idea about the thread title - how about we change it to 'Rabbitfish' so it's easy to spot when it gets pinned in the Fish of the Week section?

[felinxo]

Seffie x - no worries, I was just thinking it'd make it easier to find in the pinned section, Rabbitfish of the week has a nice ring to it

[flame9x]

I didn't mean to make you feel like a superhero, Seffie. Whoops indeed, how did that slip your mind?

[felinxo]

Ha, Seffie's got a pulse after all

[Kalimbo]

I've got a Foxface in my tank and I've found them to be fantastic additions. Initially, they can be a bit timid and require some space, often changing colour rapidly when you approach the tank - it's quite amusing, actually. But once they settle in, they become really endearing. Mine's even started eating from my hand, and it loves its marine green frozen food. It's also great at keeping algae under control. They do well with smaller, slower fish, just be sure to avoid pairing them with anything too large or dominant, as they can struggle with competition.

[finleydive]

One spot foxface rabbitfish - truly a gem in my aquarium.

I must say, this fish has proven to be a real trooper. It's coped with the initial introduction to the tank seamlessly, and even when disaster struck in the form of a disease outbreak, it came out unscathed.

Initially, it was a bit shy, darting behind the rocks at the slightest movement. However, with time, it's grown more confident, and I've even caught it swimming about, exploring its surroundings.

It's a massive fan of algae sheets and frozen veggie delights - I swear by these, as they keep its vibrant yellow hue intact. When stressed or at night, it does change colour rapidly to a dark brown mottled pattern, but that's just part of its charm.

What I love about this fish is that it doesn't harass other species, even the smaller ones like my sixline wrasse. However, it does get a bit quarrelsome with its own kind, so that's something to keep in mind.

I'd highly recommend this fish to both beginners and seasoned aquarists. It grows to a decent size - mine's currently around 6.5 inches long - and is relatively low-maintenance. Just be careful when netting or handling it, as those venomous spines can pack a nasty sting.

Despite the occasional sting, it's a great character to have in the tank. I recall when I had my velvet wrasse, the foxface would follow it around relentlessly - it was almost comical, although I'm not sure the wrasse appreciated the attention.

All in all, the one spot foxface rabbitfish is a fantastic addition to any aquarium. It's reef-safe, excellent at devouring unwanted algae, and although some reports suggest it might nip at corals, I've had no issues with mine.

[felinxo]

Just wondering if anyone else has any experiences with these great fish?

[pioneera]

I'm probably wrong but I vaguely recall reading somewhere that rabbitfish have venomous spines. Is that correct?

(I'm a freshwater person and know next to nothing about saltwater)

[felinxo]

Yes you're right, rabbitfish do have venomous spines along their back.