Leather jacket/ file fish

[darylb94]

Has anyone ever kept one in a reef tank or know of someone who has? I really like the look of them any info and personal experiences are appreciated and of course pics :)

 

[tyler1503]

I haven't personally, but I know a bloke who keeps several of the temperate water species with temperate water anemones. Not exactly the same thing, but it's worth putting out there :)

 

[tyler1503]

Oh, and they don't nip at the nems.

 

[darylb94]

Are they cold water fish?

 

[tyler1503]

Some are some aren't.
I can't speak or warm water ones found on a coral reef, however the cool water ones I have seen have been reef safe in that they don't pick at CUC or cool water nems. I'm not saying there guaranteed reef safe, but these individual fish (10 or so in several different tanks) don't pick.

 

[darylb94]

That's mad what would you say is the minimum tank size for one

 

[tyler1503]

It really depends on the species. They can range from an inch or 2 to well over 1 foot.
I'm most familiar with the pygmy leatherjacket - Brachaluteres jacksonianus. They are a cool water species and I wouldn't put one in anything smaller than about 30gal, but you could likely get 3 or 4 in a 4 foot tank. They can be very docile and are generally slow eaters and swimmers. However they can hold there own so aggression within it's own species can happen, but is fairly unlikely.
Be careful if you get any leatherjacket when netting them or having your hand in the tank. That spike of theirs can and will hurt ALOT. I speak from experience!