Stocking question - File Fish - Aptasia

jabberwock · Dec 1, 2024

I have a 2 year old 25 lagoon with 5 fish in it. They are, a yellow clown goby, blue neon cleaner goby, purple fire fish, Carpenter's Wrasse, and a Yellow Watchman Goby with a pistol shrimp. There are also various inverts and clean up crew. It is super peaceful.

My question is, should I try a small aptasia eating file fish, or just go with berghai nudibranchs from the start? I have tried a couple peppermint shrimp but, they quickly disappeared never to be seen again.

The aptasia is not crazy bad yet, but it is gaining ground... Thanks for looking!

WalkerLovesTheOcean · Dec 1, 2024

I'd personally go with the berghia since 1) they ONLY eat aipatasia (so it's guaranteed to go away forever AND not harm other inhabitants) and 2) it won't distrupt your peaceful tank.

Asm481 · Dec 1, 2024

Won't the wrasse eat the nudi's?

phillyb614 · Dec 1, 2024

I have had great experience with file fish. I know there are many cases where people have had them eat corals, but this was not the case for me. Wrasse may have taken out your shrimp and could potentially take out your berghia. Maybe try the file fish and keep a close eye? Good thing is, the file fish are easy to catch and remove if it starts to misbehave.

WalkerLovesTheOcean · Dec 1, 2024

Asm481 said:
Won't the wrasse eat the nudi's?

No, typically wrasses in the Paracheilinus species won't bother them.

fish farmer · Dec 1, 2024

How aggressive are the carpenters wrasse?

I have a sixline in a 29 gallon with a pair of clowns. I tried a filefish and it didn't end well. The wrasse constantly bullied the wrasse for a week, I thought they were starting to figure it out, but the file was barely able to feed. The file just disappeared.

jabberwock · Dec 2, 2024

fish farmer said:
How aggressive are the carpenters wrasse?

I have a sixline in a 29 gallon with a pair of clowns. I tried a filefish and it didn't end well. The wrasse constantly bullied the wrasse for a week, I thought they were starting to figure it out, but the file was barely able to feed. The file just disappeared.

My Carpenter's Wrasse has zero aggression. He does annoy my purple fish because he wants to date her. He flashes and swims spirals around her multiple times a day.