Orange Spot Rabbitfish

Beardo · May 6, 2020

Please share your experience with orange spot rabbitfish as I am considering one.
I know they get large.
I've seen some reports they might munch zoas. How about LPS and which type if they did nip them, clams? sps?
Tank is 270g, sps dominant but do have a couple lps, zoa colonies and a clam. Wouldn't be heartbroken over the zoas being snacked on.

dragon99 · May 6, 2020

Love mine. Definitely not a small fish though, but very unique coloration and causes no trouble with any other fish. I don't have any zoa in the tank, but there a couple euphyllia and an acan that he completely ignores.

Fast grower, he was pretty small 6months ago

Beardo · May 7, 2020

Thank you.

mort · May 7, 2020

You already know they get big but it's often quite surprising how quickly they grow. I personally think this is why people see the odd nip here and there, simply because their feeding isn't keeping up with the fishes metabolism.
If I had a big enough tank I'd likely have one. They may be a slight risk with corals but it's generally pretty obvious what they are eating and easy to deal with. They can become really pet fish, so it's always worth a go.

dragon99 · May 9, 2020

Surprised no one else has chimed in, didn't think they were that uncommon. Also, I totally have zoas in my tank...I'm completely acro obsessed and forgot I have one rock with a few zoa on it. Orange spot hasn't been seen nipping at anything, and honestly I rarely see him nip at algae on the rocks even. He does love some nori though.

Here's a punk rock shot for fun.

Beardo · May 9, 2020

Thanks for sharing and great picture. I went ahead and pulled the trigger on one, will be here next Friday.

Southpaw240 · May 16, 2020

Have had one for several years. Great fish, nice size, mine is about 10". When the lights go out and they camouflage is pretty cool. Very aggressive eaters, will eat anything., minnows, ghost shrimp, frozen, nori. I think if it is picking at coral its just picking the frozen food off of it. Haven't seen it actually chomping on coral. Peaceful with all the other tank mates.

Zionas · May 16, 2020

How did you manage to get two Rabbitfish to coexist?

Southpaw240 · May 16, 2020

Just did it. The spotted had for several years. Then added the two bar I guess a little more than a year ago. The two bar does show a little aggression towards the foxface on occasion. But nothing out of control. The tape with the markings in the unclear pic is for measurement purpose. They are at 1 inch intervals.

mmarine9 · May 16, 2020

dragon99 said:
Surprised no one else has chimed in, didn't think they were that uncommon. Also, I totally have zoas in my tank...I'm completely acro obsessed and forgot I have one rock with a few zoa on it. Orange spot hasn't been seen nipping at anything, and honestly I rarely see him nip at algae on the rocks even. He does love some nori though.

Here's a punk rock shot for fun.

awesome fish