Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Foxface Rabbitfish
Siganus vulpinus (Schlegel & Müller, 1845)
Also called Foxface, Foxface lo, Common foxface, Black-face rabbitfish, Badgerfish
From Eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific, from Indonesia and the Philippines to the Marshall and Gilbert Islands, north to Taiwan and south to New Caledonia and Australia.12
A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Scaled, compressed rabbitfish with a pointed snout
A tall, flat-sided fish with a small mouth on a pointed, fox-like snout. The body is bright yellow, while the face is white with a bold dark band running from the mouth through the eye to the start of the dorsal fin, plus a dark chest. When alarmed it can quickly shift to a mottled darker brown camouflage.213
Personality what they are like
Calm and peaceful with most fish, but it does not tolerate other rabbitfish. It can switch on a mottled 'alarm' colour when startled and settles back to yellow once it feels safe.32
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Moderately active grazer that cruises around the rockwork through the day picking at algae.23
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Its fin spines are venomous, so use a net or container and take care when working in the tank. Keep it well fed with plant matter so it leaves corals alone. Typical reef water: about 22 to 26 °C (72 to 78 °F), pH 8.1 to 8.4, dKH 8 to 12, specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025.23
Home where they are happiest
A large aquarium of at least about 125 US gallons (about 475 L) with live rock to graze. Wild fish live in coral-rich lagoons and seaward reefs, often near staghorn coral, from the surface to about 30 m.312
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Mainly herbivorous. Wild fish graze algae and also take some zooplankton; in aquariums offer marine algae such as nori, vegetable-based foods and some meaty items.213
Company who they like around
Adults live alone or in pairs, while juveniles may gather in schools. Keep one per tank unless it is very large, and avoid mixing with other rabbitfish.123
The story where it all began
Hermann Schlegel and Salomon Müller described the fish in 1845 as Amphacanthus vulpinus, based on specimens from Ternate in Indonesia. The name vulpinus means fox-like, a reference to its pointed snout. It is a well-known and hardy species in the marine aquarium trade.21
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Its species name vulpinus means 'fox-like', after its pointed snout.2
- 2
When it feels threatened it can switch from bright yellow to a blotchy dark brown within moments.2
- 3
Its fin spines carry a venom that scientists have compared with that of stonefishes.2
- 4
Adults often shelter among branching staghorn corals.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed March 2015)1
- Taxonomy
- Family Siganidae; first described as Amphacanthus vulpinus by Schlegel and Müller in 1845 from Ternate2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Foxface Rabbitfish. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Salinity checkevery week
- Top-upTop up evaporation with fresh RO water, not salt waterevery day
- Water testevery week
- Water changeAbout 10 to 20% of the waterevery 2 weeks
- Glass cleanevery week
Owner questions the things everyone asks
How often should I feed my Foxface Rabbitfish?
Feed small amounts once or twice a day. Furry Diary's starting plan is to feed daily, offering just enough that your fish finishes in a few minutes.2 Furry Diary plan
What does a Foxface Rabbitfish eat, and what should it never eat?
It mainly eats marine algae like nori, vegetable-based foods, and some meaty items. Never feed it anything that isn't suitable for herbivores, and avoid overfeeding to keep it from nipping corals.213
How much space does a Foxface Rabbitfish need?
It needs a large aquarium of at least about 125 US gallons (around 475 liters) with plenty of live rock to graze on. This gives it room to cruise and feel secure.312
What temperature, light or water does a Foxface Rabbitfish need?
Keep water at 22 to 26 °C (72 to 78 °F), pH 8.1 to 8.4, dKH 8 to 12, and specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025. Typical reef lighting is fine, and Furry Diary suggests checking temperature daily and salinity weekly.23 Furry Diary plan
How often should I clean a Foxface Rabbitfish's home?
Furry Diary's plan is to clean the glass weekly, test water weekly, and do a 10 to 20% water change every two weeks. Top up evaporation daily with fresh RO water. Furry Diary plan
Can a Foxface Rabbitfish live with others?
It is calm with most fish but does not tolerate other rabbitfish. Keep one per tank unless it is very large, and avoid mixing with its own kind.321
How long does a Foxface Rabbitfish live?
With good care, it can live many years, but exact lifespan varies. Ask a good breeder or exotic-pet vet for more specific guidance.
Can I handle a Foxface Rabbitfish?
No, its fin spines are venomous, so never handle it directly. Always use a net or container and take care when working in the tank.23
Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Furry Diary's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Siganus vulpinus fishbase.seused for origin, size, habitat, behaviour, colouration, IUCN status
- Wikipedia: Siganus vulpinus en.wikipedia.orgused for names, description, diet, venom, taxonomy, history
- LiveAquaria: Foxface Lo liveaquaria.comused for care level, tank size, water parameters, diet
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Cat grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
- RSPCA: What to feed your rabbit rspca.org.ukused for owner questions
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.