Siganus puellus

(Schlegel, 1852)

Masked Spinefoot Rabbitfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Cocos Keeling Islands and South China Sea to Gilbert Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef.

Size: 15 inches - 38 cm

Natural Environment: Inhabits coastal reefs rich in benthic invertebrate and algae

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, and quite attractive having a yellow body with bluish spots/lines, yellow anal, dorsal and tail, and a wide slanted black bar through the eyes.

Best maintained in well-established fish-only or reef aquariums with wide-open swimming areas, and preferably containing some algae growth.

Even though technically an omnivore, they are excellent herbivores and require a large amount of vegetable matter in their diet. In fact, they are one of the better hair alga consumers. Requires a varied diet made up of mostly vegetable matter, especially some Spirulina flake and some nori (dried seaweed/kelp). Should receive at least several feedings per day.

May be difficult to feed in the early days in the aquarium and if so, live enriched adult brine shrimp should be offered several times daily. Also, live macroalgae, e.g., Caulerpa is good at enticing new inhabitants to feed. Over time, it may learn to also accept various frozen herbivore foods.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Acanthuroidei

Family: Siganidae

Genus: Siganus

FYI: Keep in mind they have venomous dorsal and anal fins, similar to lionfish, and care must be taken in their handling.

Not totally safe with some soft corals, such as Xenia.

Easy to feed, quite active, none aggressive, and resistant to poor water quality.

One per tank unless a mated pair.

May chase other herbivores in the aquarium.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Omnivore/herbivore

Coral Safe: With caution

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful to moderately aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (21 - 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5