Decorated Rabbitfish - Medium

Decorated Rabbitfish are a blend of yellow and white with a black band over their eye. Its upper body is yellow and covered in a pattern of white lines which merge in the paler lower body. The dorsal, anal, and tailfin are yellow. It has a peaceful temperament although it will show aggression to other Rabbitfish. It is possible to house Decorated Rabbitfish with more aggressive species. They will tend to leave it alone as it has venomous dorsal spines and should be handled with care.

Rabbitfish are gonochoristic (separate sexes) and usually pair off as adults. In the wild, their spawning cycle is linked to the moons’. They will breed in large groups, often at sites near open water. Females may release up to 2 million eggs, which are fertilized by males’ sperm. The fertilized eggs adhere to the seabed before larvae hatches.

They inhabit shallow seaward reefs and clear lagoons with an abundance of coral. Their normal depth range is 2-30 meters. Its natural habitat is around the Indo-Pacific. This includes Indonesia, the South China Sea, Melanesia, Australia, and Micronesia.

Tank Recommendations for Decorated Rabbitfish

We recommend you keep them in a tank that is at least 180 gallons (681litres)

Decorated Rabbitfish are usually reef-safe if they are well fed. They may start to nibble at some species of corals.

A suitable tank requires plenty of live rock for grazing and shelter as well as open space for swimming.

Suitable Tank Buddies

Decorated Rabbitfish have a peaceful temperament unless they cohabit with other Rabbitfish. It is best to only keep one in a tank unless you have a mated pair.

They may chase other herbivorous tank buddies and nibble on coral if hungry.

Usually Compatible

Decorated Rabbitfish can have a wide variety of tank buddies. Their peaceful temperament means they won’t threaten much fish. Predators will usually avoid their venomous spines. Suitable choices include Angels, Batfish, Clownfish, Damsels, Filefish, Groupers, Lionfish, Puffers, and reef safe Wrasse.

Sometime Compatible

Aquarists need to monitor Eels, sharks or Rays, Tangs, Triggers, and fish only Wrasse. Live coral and invertebrates may be targeted if a Rabbitfish is hungry. Conspecifics are only suitable if they are a mated pair.

Rarely Compatible

Avoid housing Rabbitfish with Pipefish or Seahorses.

Feeding Your Decorated Rabbitfish

Decorated Rabbitfish are predominantly herbivores. They will consume vegetable matter, algae, dried seaweed such as Nori and spirulina.

If there are insufficient algae for them to graze on in the tank aquarists can supplement their diet with products such as spirulina.

They can also eat some meat products such as vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, Mysis shrimp, and krill.