rabbitfish compatibility

firechild · 10-13-2001, 12:42 AM

I currently have a bluespot rabbitfish (Siganus corallinus) in my 80G (6'x14"x18"). My question is, is it possible to keep 2 rabbitfish of the same or different species in a tank this size? The one I have is doing so much for my algae control and they are such great fish, I was hoping to get a bluelined rabbitfish.
Any thoughts?

**scubadude** · 10-13-2001, 06:50 PM

Welcome to RL!

Rabbitfish are part of the tang family and tangs are fairly docile, I would think that you would be able to accomodate two of them in your tank ( I wouldnt do any more though, 80g can be small for more than 2 tangs/rabbitfish ) They might irritate each other at first tell they get used to each other. Sorry i couldnt be any more help...maybe someone else can shed some light on the matter.

Ironreef · 10-14-2001, 02:32 AM

IME tangs are aggressive toward other tangs that are similar. Kole tangs are suppose to be the most mellow. But I had one that nearly killed a new purple .= may looked to similar. But each fish is different. IME when adding similar fish that eat similar foods you really never know if they will get along or not. I know ppl who had there new tang killed with 2 swipes from there tail = the resident tang. I belive rabbit fish are a little more mellow but thre could be aggression. If you add another get the same size or bigger. But 1 maybe enough depending on you fish load already??

firechild · 10-14-2001, 07:32 AM

Fish ATM;
1 blue spot rabbitfish (medium)
1 fiji damsel (adult)
1 yellow damsel (juvenile)
1 white tailed humbug (juvenile)
2 gold head sleeper gobies (small)
2 local gobies (tiny ~1") [originally intended as anemone food, there was 7]
So I don't think bioload is an issue especially since my tank is literally 1/2 empty, the fish really like one end of the tank and only the rabbitfish and the fiji damsel go to the other end. Most of the time you can look at the tank and swear there are no fish in it (except maybe one of the small gobies).

Bughead · 10-14-2001, 01:21 PM

My one-spot foxface (Siganus vulpinis, I think) is the most docile fellow in the tank. He's kept easily with other tangs, but I don't know how he'd be with another foxface. He flares and postures at his own reflection, so I suspect he wouldn't be too happy with another foxface, even from a different species. If you add another fish, I'd suggest a tang rather than another rabbit.

firechild · 10-14-2001, 07:36 PM

I saw a tank at an LFS that had 2 fiji foxfaces, a blue spot rabbitfish and a blue lined rabbitfish, there was no aggression in the tank at all. The blue spot was a similar size to mine and the blue lined was the one I was intending to buy.

Bughead · 10-14-2001, 09:02 PM

Well, hey, maybe it'll work just fine. Give it a try and let us know.

10-13-2001, 12:42 AM	#1
firechild Just Moved In Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 24	rabbitfish compatibility I currently have a bluespot rabbitfish (Siganus corallinus) in my 80G (6'x14"x18"). My question is, is it possible to keep 2 rabbitfish of the same or different species in a tank this size? The one I have is doing so much for my algae control and they are such great fish, I was hoping to get a bluelined rabbitfish. Any thoughts?

10-13-2001, 06:50 PM	#2
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,298	Hello firechild Welcome to RL! Rabbitfish are part of the tang family and tangs are fairly docile, I would think that you would be able to accomodate two of them in your tank ( I wouldnt do any more though, 80g can be small for more than 2 tangs/rabbitfish ) They might irritate each other at first tell they get used to each other. Sorry i couldnt be any more help...maybe someone else can shed some light on the matter. __________________ Rocky

10-14-2001, 01:21 PM	#5
Bughead Governor Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 1,152	My one-spot foxface (Siganus vulpinis, I think) is the most docile fellow in the tank. He's kept easily with other tangs, but I don't know how he'd be with another foxface. He flares and postures at his own reflection, so I suspect he wouldn't be too happy with another foxface, even from a different species. If you add another fish, I'd suggest a tang rather than another rabbit. __________________ The road to hell is paved with good intentions, but it's the thought that counts.

10-14-2001, 09:02 PM	#7
Bughead Governor Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 1,152	Well, hey, maybe it'll work just fine. Give it a try and let us know. __________________ The road to hell is paved with good intentions, but it's the thought that counts.

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10-14-2001, 02:32 AM	#3
Ironreef Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Pacific WA Posts: 1,220	IME tangs are aggressive toward other tangs that are similar. Kole tangs are suppose to be the most mellow. But I had one that nearly killed a new purple .= may looked to similar. But each fish is different. IME when adding similar fish that eat similar foods you really never know if they will get along or not. I know ppl who had there new tang killed with 2 swipes from there tail = the resident tang. I belive rabbit fish are a little more mellow but thre could be aggression. If you add another get the same size or bigger. But 1 maybe enough depending on you fish load already??

10-14-2001, 07:32 AM	#4
firechild Just Moved In Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 24	Fish ATM; 1 blue spot rabbitfish (medium) 1 fiji damsel (adult) 1 yellow damsel (juvenile) 1 white tailed humbug (juvenile) 2 gold head sleeper gobies (small) 2 local gobies (tiny ~1") [originally intended as anemone food, there was 7] So I don't think bioload is an issue especially since my tank is literally 1/2 empty, the fish really like one end of the tank and only the rabbitfish and the fiji damsel go to the other end. Most of the time you can look at the tank and swear there are no fish in it (except maybe one of the small gobies).

10-14-2001, 07:36 PM	#6
firechild Just Moved In Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 24	I saw a tank at an LFS that had 2 fiji foxfaces, a blue spot rabbitfish and a blue lined rabbitfish, there was no aggression in the tank at all. The blue spot was a similar size to mine and the blue lined was the one I was intending to buy.

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