Not pleased w/rabbitfish

[Jocephus]

I got an orange spotted rabbitfish when we all went to Dr Mac's last time. In his tank the fish was sort of an off blue color with orange spots. In mine, it's brown. I don't think it's stress, as he swims back and forth all day with my yellow tang. Do you think different lighting would make him stay a darker color? In the mornings when the lights come on, he's very dark. By the end of the day, he's as described. He just hasn't ever gotten back to the color he was at Dr Mac's. Dr Mac also had five of them in the tank. Do you think he'd like another rabbit in with him?

 

[Gordonious]

Perhaps it was stressed in the store and is happy now. Or perhaps it was some sort of mating display or show of dominance and there is no longer a point in displaying the colors being alone. Lighting might alter it's color slightly, but not dramatically, so I wouldn't advice trying that.
The first thing to do is to find out what the fish is. <A HREF="">fish base</A> does not come up with a orange spotted rabbitfish. Dr. Mac's website no longer lists them, if it ever did. Perhaps you could e-mail him and see if you could find out there scientific name or at least the genus.
.............
Well one last thing to try... google. The first result under a search on google results a page you may want to read. <A HREF="">Does this look like your fish? </A> If so we come to reason number 320 you should try to ID your animals as much as you can. <B><U>"THIS FISH IS VENEMOUS. The dorsal fins of this fish can cause extreme pain. Severe reactions can occur if allergic. If stung soak injured area in hot water and seek medical attention. "</U></B>
If that is not the exact fish you have or you are not sure, start looking at that genus, Siganus, or under the second common name listed, Gold Spotted Foxface.

Good luck, keep us updated,
Jon

 

[Jocephus]

Jon, this is the fish

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?ddid=26598&siteid=20

The subspecies is what drives the common name. I am aware of it's stinging potential. I am also aware of Siganus SSP color changing abilities. The issue I am having is that it was orange spots on a very light base, and now its lighter spots on a dark brown fish. Just looking for some input as to why?

 

[icy1155]

From everything that I have read, it is most likely just stress... how long has he been in the tank?

 

[Jocephus]

'bout a month. He seems to be stress free, but I don't speak fish, so who really knows.

 

[emonemo420]

lol....hey man ur talking about the fish that you picked up when we went to dr.macs right?....i dont recall seeing any bright colors on em...just that crazy darkness like rock and then the color he is when he is in ur tank...im to lazy to look at the pic but hey GL either way!!

 

[Jocephus]

He wasn't like flourescent, but now he is just dark brown. I asked at dr mac which his true color was, and they said light with orange spots. I haven't seen it yet though. I'll probably flush him.

jk

 

[phil519]

It's possible the behavior of the fish is different when "schooling" with others - versus by itself. Perhaps it is still finding out whether it's "safe" to show it's colors.

Have you considered whether Dr. Mac fed them a particular food?

Lighting usually impacts corals and such - but with a siganus - you never know - one tank with a vulpinus may have a bright yellow body, and that same fish later in the night is patchy black. I know yours isn't a vulpinus (aka foxface).

Is this the fish you have?
Gold Saddle Rabbitfish

 

[Jocephus]

I believe it's a laqueus, but I'm not positive. It's original color looked similar to the link you posted, now it is basically dark brown, with light brown spots. Nothing overtly aggressive in the tank, and it is the largest fish, so it's hard to say whether it is stress.

 

[jasert39]

i have a yellow foxface in my tank that was brownish in color from literally months for some reason, slowlly but surely it got more comforatble in my tank and is bright yellow now, my species at least is a very skittish fish, good luck with it, pretty fish.

 

[icy1155]

Most foxface are really skittish... we had a pair at my old college that would turn brown as soon as they saw people simply because there wansnt enough cover in their tank for them to feel comfortable... once we added another 100lbs of LR they were fine all the time.

 

[Mache62]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10826814#post10826814 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jocephus
He wasn't like flourescent, but now he is just dark brown. I asked at dr mac which his true color was, and they said light with orange spots. I haven't seen it yet though. I'll probably flush him.

jk

if you haven't flushed him yet I would be interested in him. I saw some of these at MACNA last week and thought they were very striking looking.
Ley me know if you are interesed in selling or trading him.

 

[wds21921]

Lighting, diet and acclimation (stress) are all potential possibilities that are effecting the coloring.
I'd give it some time and see what happens. Dr. Mac might be using some 14K lights also that would help bring out all the brighter or deeper colors?