Siganus lineatus “Golden Lined Rabbitfish”, Captive Bred

Reared primarily as a food fish, Siganus lineatus is generally known as the Golden-lined Rabbitfish and is also called the Golden Lined Spinefoot (and other derivations). Like all Rabbitfishes (including the popular Foxfaces), this species has venomous dorsal fin spines meant to deter predators, so take care when handling. They are consummate grazers of algae, but many references do warn that if underfed, they can at times turn on corals.

Rabbitfish have been bred and reared as foodfish for years; here’s a paper on their aquaculture. Biota Marine Life Palau rears this species as part of their foodfish replenishment efforts; seeding reefs with captive-bred juveniles is not unlike the stocking of fingerling trout for a put-grow-take stream fishery here in the US. As a Biota-produced species, the geographic provenance of these fish is Palau. In our tanks, the couple we’ve had proved to be good algal grazers, completely clearing a tank of hair algae over time, however, I’ve yet to see them touch any cyanobacterial (red slime), as our product photos indicate. They will change color, hide in crevices when scared, stressed, resting.

This species can reach significantly large sizes, the maximum recorded is 17″, with 10″ being more common. This particular species schools both as a juvenile and adult; Reefs Keeping Magazine offers a good overview of the Rabbitfishes by Henry C. Schultz III, which is a great resource for more information.