About a year ago, I purchased a Biota Radial Filefish. They are sold as 'Aptasia Eating', but mine couldn't care less- fortunately that wasn't the point for me, my wife and I just really liked their unique look!
Over the past year, he has grown, but spent nearly all of his time in the top corner of the tank. He definitely didn't look very happy, spending hours and days staying still, looking into the corner.
I had previously read that their natural habitat was xenia, but given their propensity to become a pest i was always very hesitant. A mate would be ideal (he originally came paired, but his partner didn't make it through quarantine), but there is no way to get pre-sexed radial filefish. It looked like it would be a pretty bleak life for the little guy.
A few weeks ago, I purchased a photosynthetic gorgonian, and placed it right in the middle of the tank. A few days later, and the filefish had taken up a nearly full-time residence in the gorgonian! He sleeps in it (he grabs onto a polyp with his mouth to achor himself as he sleeps), and the gorgonian seems to be unaffected by its new guest. He has no interest in my brown photosynthetic gorgonian, but he loves this purple one.
In doing a few quick searches, this behaviour didn't seem to be documented- so I thought I would post!
Daytime:
Nighttime:
Over the past year, he has grown, but spent nearly all of his time in the top corner of the tank. He definitely didn't look very happy, spending hours and days staying still, looking into the corner.
I had previously read that their natural habitat was xenia, but given their propensity to become a pest i was always very hesitant. A mate would be ideal (he originally came paired, but his partner didn't make it through quarantine), but there is no way to get pre-sexed radial filefish. It looked like it would be a pretty bleak life for the little guy.
A few weeks ago, I purchased a photosynthetic gorgonian, and placed it right in the middle of the tank. A few days later, and the filefish had taken up a nearly full-time residence in the gorgonian! He sleeps in it (he grabs onto a polyp with his mouth to achor himself as he sleeps), and the gorgonian seems to be unaffected by its new guest. He has no interest in my brown photosynthetic gorgonian, but he loves this purple one.
In doing a few quick searches, this behaviour didn't seem to be documented- so I thought I would post!
Daytime:
Nighttime:
