What rabbitfish are suitable for a 80G 4' tank?

[Brah02]

I am thinking about adding a rabbitfish to my tank. I really like the Siganus Guttatus (Yellow Blotch), Siganus Corallinus (Blue Spotted), Siganus Punctatus (Gold Spotted), or Siganus Virgatus (Two Barred), but LiveAquaria shows most of those need larger tanks. Is a One Spot my only choice?

 

[JumboShrimp]

In a 4' tank, keep clear of a Gold Lined Rabbitfish. I grew these monsters from Biota babies the size of my thumb. And it happened FAST! (That's a Blue Throat Trigger to the left.)

 

[bradreef]

One spot is prob only choice. It might get to big

 

[DanP-SD]

I’ve had gold lines for almost a year and they’ve grown from about 2.5” to about 4-5”. I think you’d have no problem with three of four in a four foot tank for a couple years but would eventually have to rehome them.

 

[i cant think]

I am thinking about adding a rabbitfish to my tank. I really like the Siganus Guttatus (Yellow Blotch), Siganus Corallinus (Blue Spotted), Siganus Punctatus (Gold Spotted), or Siganus Virgatus (Two Barred), but LiveAquaria shows most of those need larger tanks. Is a One Spot my only choice?

The main ones on there that will work are the Virgatus/Doliatus (these are sister species and both get about the same size). I’ve had a Doliatus max out at 6 inches, and we had him for 3+ years. The corallinus is also doable, as they don’t get huge compared to the other 2 species.

The larger tank is necessary if you don’t plan for large caves along with appropriate swimroom. My Foxfaces in my 4 foot (I had a Magnificent and a Tongan Black) only did well because I had 2 large caves/arches, and the other side had a “pile” of rocks that was hollow on the inside for them to hide in. Then in the day, they’d be peacefully gliding around the tank.

As for Siganus species and growth rate, you can slow it. I’ve got a virgatus that’s about 2.5 inches, I got him around 1 inch. Now, my feeding regime isn’t amazing due to the amount of time I spend away from the tank, sometimes the tank doesn’t get fed for a day or two with anything meaty. But it always gets a form of Nori sheet.
Whereas, I’ve fed the 3 at my LFS every hour Wednesday-Sunday (nobody is in to feed on Monday/Tuesday) and well, they’re about 3.5-4 inches now and all 4 landed at the same time off the same batch from an import.

 

[Biota_Marine Verified Sponsor]

In a 4' tank, keep clear of a Gold Lined Rabbitfish. I grew these monsters from Biota babies the size of my thumb. And it happened FAST! (That's a Blue Throat Trigger to the left.)

These guys are looking great in your tank!

 

[Zionas]

I sometimes wonder if the One-Spot and Vulpinus are truly separate species. I’ve seen a lot of “Vulpinus” with partially developed, or faint dark spots and patches, that separate them from the “archetypal” “Unimaculatus.” It seems that, the “Unimaculatus” is found in southern Japan and the Philippines, while the Vulpinus is found in Indonesia and the wider Pacific. I do wonder, if they’re indeed separate species, maybe the ones with “partial” spots or blotches, are hybrids and just that not much attention has been given to Rabbitfish hybridization. It’s not rare for some species of Tangs to mingle and breed with one another in mixed aggregations, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Siganus are also like their cousins.