Rabbit fish reef safe?

[friedoysterskin]

I wanted to get a two barred rabbit fish (Siganus virgatus) but dont know if its reef safe, anyone have any experiences with them in a reef? I currently have a bunch of dusters, coco worms, mushrooms, LPS, various snails, and a clownfish.

 

[Bebo77]

not if you like zoas....

 

[forddna]

Mine doesn't touch my Zoos. I saw him nip at my Xenia, but he basically just tasted...put it in his mouth and spit it back out. I've not seen him touch anything else.

(edited to say "xenia" instead of "zoa" - he's never nipped at a zoa)

 

[Reeftanks6]

Mine is great has not even looked or thinks about eating one.

 

[JokerGirl]

I've had two, and neither of them have ever touched any of my corals. I've got a mix of softies, LPS, and SPS.

They are simple "with caution" fish. They have the potential to do so, but if you keep them well fed I don't think you'll have a problem.

 

[Kolognekoral]

I've never had a problem, but some Siganus magnificus are known to go after mussels and clams. I personally beleive this is due to improper feeding. These fish require extremely large amounts of food and grow quickly. They are largely vegetarian and should be fed dried algae as well as flakes, which they love. Always a favourite with me (the fish, not the food).

 

[rydr119]

I love mine doesn't touch anything but algae and the food I feed. Tons of personality.

 

[Sk8r]

Mine ate frogspawn.

 

[forddna]

And since a few are pointing out that they just need to be well fed - mine is a PIG, so it's more about me than the fish.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

I have kept the foxface, bicolor, and doliatus rabbits with soft corals like leathers, mushrooms, polyps, and some SPS and never got a coral nipper but it happens. I keep mine well fed in a good sized tank (180) and I'm sure this helps.

 

[fittiger]

I second Kolognekoral's response. They like to eat a lot, and if well fed, especially if getting enough algae intake, they should not bother corals. I've found that the "rabbits" tend to be more personal than the "foxface" species.

 

[Berkeleyaquaman]

I think that if you "vegitarian" fishes are picking at clams, corals, zoo's than they are not getting enough food. These fish graze all day long on the reefs. They need to be fed a lot of food and a variety. I have hade all of these rabbits at one time or another. lots of food is the key. Unfortunately more food in means more waste.

 

[seawandrr]

Yeah, my orange spot will let you know when he feels you're not feeding him enough by noshing on Xenia. But that's the only thing he's ever gone after.