Skinny File Fish

[Sean Norman]

So after a lot of research and deliberation I decided to try a Filefish for the massive Aptasia problem I have. The background story.. I have a 180.. it’s a deep tank.. 20 inches wide.. 29 deep. There is extensive rock work that I put together. The build was meant to enhance the livestock’s life and environment and to create structures to grow a mixed reef. Flow and light is obviously higher at the top of the tank and lower as you drop down. The tank is bare bottom with two large acrylic containers I made to hold sand for the rear of the tank. The tank is on the higher flow side.
I have managed to create a “Tang Gang”, one Yellow, one Orange Shoulder, one Tomini and one Blue eyed Tang, A Sawallow Tail Angel and a Bird Wrasse and one Magnificent Foxface. Everyone gets along and actually often school and swim together and eat together. I put all the Tangs in when they were very young and I feed a lot of Noori.. this has helped to keep the aggression down.
I now have a serious Aptasia problem. I did put in a couple of Peppermint shrimp.. I have seen no decrease in the Aptasia. I think that Berghia would become an expensive snack for the Wrasse and I do not like the idea of them starving to death once they have eaten all the Aptasia.
I really have always wanted a Copperband… but the high flow and nature of the other fish makes me think this would be a fail. I decided on two Molly Miller Blennie’s.. I got them on line they showed up and are about 3/4 of an inch long.. so they are going to need to grow out in a QT tank for awhile. I decided to try a Filefish. If it decided to go after my coral I can return it to my LFS, and it will be easier to catch in the tank if I need to do that.
I got the Filefish today and he is in QT now. He did eat tonight. He has been at the LFS since 11/19. He looks really skinny. Any thoughts on how to get weight on him..anything particular I should feed? I usually feed a mix of Emerald Entree and PE and Plankton, I do have some high quality pellets that I feed as a light snack in the am’s. Will that work?

 

[JumboShrimp]

If you can get him eating pellets, it can only help. Maybe add something a bit more meaty as well-- like very tiny pieces of cut up shrimp. Ideally you'd like to fatten him up before going into the DT, because at least initially he likely won't be as fast getting to the food as the other fish (such as your Tangs). Best wishes.

 

[Asm481]

Aquaculture or wild caught? My skinny small filefish came to me already quarantined. It is chasing emerald entree right alongside my Scopas Tang and the foxface. He has nipped my Duncan's but also started cleaning the rock of aptasia. My suggestion for you would be can you get it by some dirty live rock so it can begin picking.

 

[Sean Norman]

Not sure on wild caught or not? I have a separate QT that he will go into in a day or so that I over a rock covered in Aptasia so he can start to get used to it. My pl. is to QT and let him get settled before his release. I usually do TTM but am thinking I am going to just monitor and maybe Prazi I the basic QT to ensure he is parasite and worm feee.

 

[00W]

These are docile, gentle wonderful fish with a great personality.
Some can hold their own but they are slow, very picky eaters that don't fair well in a tank of aggressive eaters and over achievers.
They also need 3 meals a day unless they're eating aiptasia to supplement. IMO that's why some of them snack on corals. They get hungry.
You're well spoken and seem to understand your tank and it's creatures.
I like that.
Good idea on qt with aiptasia covered rocks.
I've had a few over the years.
Never did I have one that ate aiptasia.
Brine shrimp, some flake or anything floating in their direction.
None of them could take even the mildest of flow.
I've seen some of the tiny ones fair a bit better but the larger ones don't seem to tolerate change well.
I'm in no way an expert of any kind in any way. These are just my observations in keeping these fish.
I would have loved to have a smaller tank dedicated to a pair of these guys only.
They're super smart and very friendly.
Good luck.
Joel

 

[Paul B]

I usually feed a mix of Emerald Entree and PE

I don't even know what that is, but filefish are very large eaters and in the sea eat mostly crabs, snails, fish and anything else they can find. I would not feed one, (or any fish) pellets. They should be fed meaty foods like shellfish or worms.

They are one of the hardiest fish and easiest to keep.