Experiences with Orange Spot Rabbitfish and/or Gold Lined Rabbitfish?

[Barncat]

Hey everyone,

Just curious about peoples' experiences with these intriguing fish as I am contemplating them for my mixed, primarily LPS reef 125 gallon stocking list. I know the reef safeness of all rabbitfish can be hit or miss but I like that these guys are captivebred. I love bright candy colours so that's a strong consideration - it's why I got into marine aquaria, because I love colourful fish.

What do you guys think of these two species? What is your opinion of their colour? Am I better off adopting a different rabbitfish species entirely? If you've had both, which do/did you prefer?

Photos from vendors!

Biota's gold-lined rabbitfish.

ORA's orange spot rabbitfish.

For large fish in my tank I currently only have a juvenile scopas tang (his name is Espresso and he is dearly loved.) I am planning on adopting at least one other tang of yet-to-be-determined-non-zebrasoma-species (probably a blue eye kole tang,) and possibly a longnose butterflyfish. I also yearn for a dwarf angel, likely a coral beauty or a flame.

I don't plan on keeping many inverts apart from urchins, nassarius snails, cowrie snails and hermit crabs.

Espresso says, "I could use some landscaping help on this reef and a buddy who's my own size to race, all my reefmates right now are too tiny to keep up with me when I zoom!"

 

[KrisReef]

I’m too lazy to look up how big these fishes get? I see many large rabbit fish that have been traded in, presumably they are too large for the tank they were in?

Bump

 

[Barncat]

I’m too lazy to look up how big these fishes get? I see many large rabbit fish that have been traded in, presumably they are too large for the tank they were in?

Bump

LiveAquaria says both are fine for my 6' long 125 gallon reef. They're 9"-10."

 

[areefer01]

LiveAquaria says both are fine for my 6' long 125 gallon reef.

I'm not sure LA lists that fish. Biota's Gold Lined Rabbitfish (Siganus lineatus) will easily reach 9 inches if properly taken care of and in short order. More than likely it will reach its wild size between 12 and 17 inches. They are, after all, fished by locals in Palau for dinner.

They are voracious eaters of all types. Dry, frozen, live macro algae, nori, and natural algae.

They have a very wide tail which means they can go from 0 to light speed in no time when startled. May not be a big deal in a new display but in mature systems they can create a frag even on the Acropora colonies of thickest branch size. Example below.

Calm, peaceful fish.

Helped eradicate my Xena population a bit.

Things to be aware of. Just because the display is 6' long and on paper has 125 gallons of water storage there are things that take up space such as substrate, rock, equipment, and corals. Corals grow and can take up a lot of space.

Here is a picture I took last year. The same fish is probably pushing 10 to 11 inches now.

Busted Acropora it created. I'm still amazed that it didn't knock itself out.

They're 9"-10."

With regards to the Gold Lined Rabbitfish they are incorrect. I know a couple other fellow hobbyist who keep these and they are of similar size. One of them has 3 of them.

Edit: BTW mine is kept in a 210 gallon display and it isn't enough. I am in the midst of an upgrade because of this fish and working with a sized display 108 x 30 x 30...

 

[Barncat]

I really appreciate your input!

 

[Barncat]

Okay, Wikipedia says for both of these species:

"This species attains a maximum total length of 43 cm (17 in), although 25 cm (9.8 in) is more typical."

So this must be where the 9-10" info on aquarium sites came from. I wasn't in any doubt of you it just occurred to me that checking adult fish size on a non-specialty website might be prudent, so this is what I will do going forwards with both of these particular species off of the proverbial table.

 

[Awake2005]

I'm not sure LA lists that fish. Biota's Gold Lined Rabbitfish (Siganus lineatus) will easily reach 9 inches if properly taken care of and in short order. More than likely it will reach its wild size between 12 and 17 inches. They are, after all, fished by locals in Palau for dinner.

They are voracious eaters of all types. Dry, frozen, live macro algae, nori, and natural algae.

They have a very wide tail which means they can go from 0 to light speed in no time when startled. May not be a big deal in a new display but in mature systems they can create a frag even on the Acropora colonies of thickest branch size. Example below.

Calm, peaceful fish.

Helped eradicate my Xena population a bit.

Things to be aware of. Just because the display is 6' long and on paper has 125 gallons of water storage there are things that take up space such as substrate, rock, equipment, and corals. Corals grow and can take up a lot of space.

Here is a picture I took last year. The same fish is probably pushing 10 to 11 inches now.

Busted Acropora it created. I'm still amazed that it didn't knock itself out.

With regards to the Gold Lined Rabbitfish they are incorrect. I know a couple other fellow hobbyist who keep these and they are of similar size. One of them has 3 of them.

Edit: BTW mine is kept in a 210 gallon display and it isn't enough. I am in the midst of an upgrade because of this fish and working with a sized display 108 x 30 x 30...

11 inches currently, still growing... eats like a pig

 

[Gjedde]

I had a two bar which i believe is pretty similar in my 150. Its the only fish ive ever had to rehome. Nearly killed a chocolate tang when i first put it into the tank. Not sure if it is common for these fish to be so aggressive, but food for thought.
Rabbitfish was maybe 6 inches and tang was 4”.
At 6” i could tell that my tank was going to be a bit small for it, super active fish with a great personality.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I bought two Gold Lined Rabbit Fish from Biota-- they came the size of my thumb (if that), and grew more quickly than any other type of fish I have ever owned. So be prepared for a quick growing monster. Lol. (That's a Blue Throat Trigger in there for comparison.)

 

[areefer01]

I bought two Gold Lined Rabbit Fish from Biota-- they came the size of my thumb (if that), and grew more quickly than any other type of fish I have ever owned. So be prepared for a quick growing monster. Lol. (That's a Blue Throat Trigger in there for comparison.)

I haven't owned many large fish but I would agree. They grow very, very, fast. Mine was no different than what you described. I have one I can't imagine two.

 

[littlefoxx]

I have an orange spot being QTd by Dr Reef right now to add! Ill let you know when it comes

 

[Dani305]

I went to Biota to pick up (I am local) my gold lined rabbit fish last week, and he is def one of my new faves!

My bf says he just looks like a snapper LOL

 

[Rach77]

I see this is older, but I just purchased an orange spotted rabbitfish in January of 26 at 2" length. By July, 6 months later, has already reached 6-7". Eats sheets of nori like it's going out of style. Also ate my breeding pair of coral banded shrimp and a porcelain crab. Also gets supplemented with regular frozen seafood such as shrimp, squid, mussels. Definitely more active at night