Masked Spinefoot – siganus puellus
Species name: siganus puellus
Common names: Masked Spinefoot, Decorated Rabbitfish, masked rabbitfish, Masked spinefoot,
Family: Siganidae (Rabbitfishes)
Order: Perciformes (perch-likes)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 15 in. but most only get in the 8-10 in. range.
Minimum tank size: 100 gallons
Hardiness: Medium
Aggressiveness: Peaceful except when housed with other rabbitfish. It may be housed with more aggressive fish and can be kept in pairs.
Reef Compatibility: Reef-safe if well fed. If not, it is possible for them to nip at and consume some species of LPS and soft corals.
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific: Cocos-Keeling Islands and the South China Sea to the Gilbert Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia
Diet: Omnivore. It eats mostly vegetable matter but will also accept some meaty foods. In captivity, a sheet of nori should be supplied as well as other foods like, Formula I & II, mysis shrimp and flake food.
Additional information:
The Masked Spinefoot, also known as Decorated Rabbitfish or masked rabbitfish, occurs in shallow, coral-rich areas of clear lagoons and seaward reefs of the Indo-West Pacific region at depths of 10 to 100 feet.
Specimens up to 3 in. forms large schools in shallows, lagoons and outer reef flats, particularly in areas dominated by luxurious growths of Acropora while adults occur in pairs. Juveniles feed on filamentous algae and adults feed on algae, tunicates, and sponges.
The body is yellow-orange dorsally grading through pale blue to white below. The body is also covered with wavy blue lines that are vertical anteriorly and horizontal posteriorly. The eyes are masked by a prominent blackish stripe that extends from the bottom of the mouth to the top of the head. As the black stripe passes the eye it becomes spotted.
Care needs to be taken with them, as they have poisonous spines. When stressed, they will flash and point their poisonous spines at any fish or hand in the tank. Their sting is similar to a Lionfish.
One of the most interesting thing about rabbitfish is their ability to change colour (from light to dark) depending on their mood and at night. This color changes is normal with this species, but if the dark shades persist, may take that as sign of problem. The following video is a great example:
The Masked Spinefoot likes to live in a reef like environment so provide rock and plant matter along with room to swim. They need a good size tank of at least 4 foot.
The Masked Spinefoot is best kept singly, although pairs may be kept in aquariums of 125 gallons or more. They are generally reef-safe if they are well-fed. The ideal aquarium should be at least 4 foot long, have a temperature of 72 to 78F with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4 and a specific gravity between 1.023 and 1.025.
Do you have experience with the siganus puellus?
Share with us using the comment box bellow.
Article written by www.aquariumslife.com
References: FishBase, Australian Museum
Popularity: 1% [?]
