Coral Rabbitfish-Siganus corallinus

Alice · 01-17-2003, 12:17 AM

I'm seriously considering getting one of these guys. I think they are different looking and pretty cool. Besides, I have a tank full of macro that he can munch on.

Anyone ever had one?

Here's a pic:

Alice

Alice · 01-17-2003, 12:18 AM

Wow. That was a big pic, LOL.

Casey · 01-17-2003, 04:06 AM

Never had one but he is cool

Jimbo · 01-17-2003, 07:05 AM

Nice looking fish, is it nocturnal? So it eats macro algea, cool

Alice · 01-17-2003, 10:32 AM

I've never read anything about them being nocturnal. The ones that Woody has had have been active when the lights are on. It's hard to tell from the pic but those spots are bright blue. Depending on the age of the fish, the can be pretty well covered with the blue spots. And they seem to "color shift" even more than the common Foxface rabbitfish.

icebear · 01-17-2003, 10:35 AM

I think its really neat, i like the Cleopatra eyes..what's the going price for one of these and keeping requirements?

Doug1 · 01-17-2003, 10:38 AM

Wow I see your catching up with me, congrats

Alice · 01-17-2003, 10:44 AM

Who'd have thunk we'd be where we are now, back 4 years ago when this all started, eh Doug?

Thanks

Alice · 01-18-2003, 01:01 PM

These fish don't seem to show up to often in stores but they seem to be readily availabe from the wholesalers. Retail price between $40 and $60.

Their diet in the wild is algae so he should have plenty to eat in my tank (dang macro!) but I'll feed him Nori and mush as supplement. They get to a fair size as adults, somewhere between 8-11" so a larger tank would be recommended.

Alice

tdwyatt · 01-19-2003, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alice
...Their diet in the wild is algae so he should have plenty to eat in my tank (dang macro!) but I'll feed him Nori and mush as supplement. They get to a fair size as adults, somewhere between 8-11" so a larger tank would be recommended.

Hey Alice!

There is a not of discussion in taxonomy circles that the entire Signatus genus only consists of 2 or 3 spp. and that the color and marking variation is just that, color variants of the same spp. of fish. The eating habits are the same, they all turn pretty much the same nocturnal sleeping colors at night and will be next to impossible to see in LR when the lights are out, they REALLY have the protective coloration down. This nocturnal similarity of coloration is another reason presented to support the proposed reduction of the number of species of Signatus. The Kuiter/Debelius book really doesn't go much into this, but it does show some of the variants in coloration and the individual variation within even established taxonomy at this time. Not only will these fishes eat your macroalgae, but will eat microalgal and cyanobacterial mats as well, which accounts for their toxic spines (the ability evidently to concentrate the toxins from some spp. of dinoflagellates attached to the algae) as well as Ciguatera food poisoning.

A great fish, with lots of personality, you will enjoy this fish tremendously!.. Just remember, they DO have toxic spines...

Alice · 01-19-2003, 12:47 PM

Quote:

A great fish, with lots of personality, you will enjoy this fish tremendously!.. Just remember, they DO have toxic spines...

Oh yes, I'm aware. And informed my family of that little fact as well. My husband's eyebrows shot up (the kids call him "Safety Man" LOL) but he refrained from comment!

Thanks for the info, Tom. I like this fish already and he's not even home in my tank yet!

Alice

Spanky · 01-19-2003, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Not only will these fishes eat your macroalgae, but will eat microalgal and cyanobacterial mats as well

We need those over here!

Alice, that's a great looking fish. Now I like that one.

cath · 01-19-2003, 01:49 PM

Eat Cyanobactia too??? Too bad my tank is too small for that beauty, Alice. What a neat lookin fish!
Oh, my sister Bobbi is the safety officer in the family. I know what you mean about that.

BTW...are there any smaller fish that dine on Cyano?