Masked Rabbitfish

The Masked Rabbitfish is an elegant species named for its distinctive black facial mask that extends from the snout through the eye and across the cheek, creating a striking bandit-like appearance. The body is a warm golden-yellow adorned with fine blue spots and wavy lines, while the dark mask provides dramatic contrast. This combination of color and pattern makes it one of the more visually appealing rabbitfish available in the marine aquarium trade.

In the wild, the Masked Rabbitfish is found on coral reefs and lagoons throughout the western Pacific, often swimming in pairs near branching coral formations. It grazes on various algae species growing on reef substrates and is an important contributor to reef health through its constant algae removal. Like all rabbitfish, it carries venomous dorsal and anal fin spines that serve as effective defense against predators and must be respected by aquarists.

The Masked Rabbitfish adapts well to aquarium life and is considered one of the easier marine fish to maintain. It is a prolific algae eater that will help control nuisance algae in reef aquariums while posing minimal threat to corals when adequately fed. This species is peaceful, hardy, and disease-resistant, making it an excellent addition to community reef systems of 125 gallons or larger. It does best with stable water parameters and a diet rich in marine algae.