Tell me about your filefish!

WIReefer · Oct 9, 2020

So today I decided to purchase an Aiptasia eating filefish (hopefully Aiptasia eating) all of my pepperment shrimp have died over the years and I’ve started to see Aiptasia come back, as you can see in picture! Haha I would like to hear your guys thoughts on these or successes/failure stories.

Jimbo662 · Oct 9, 2020

I've got one in my QT tank right now. Not a sign of aptasia in the tank but lots of them in the overflow box.

WIReefer · Oct 9, 2020

Jimbo662 said:
I've got one in my QT tank right now. Not a sign of aptasia in the tank but lots of them in the overflow box.

There isn’t much coral in my tank I’ve moved everything due to moving shorty so don’t have to worry much about him nipping at corals. Just want him to clear the rocks before they go into my new tank. Best of luck with your guy!

moz71 · Oct 9, 2020

Just moved my to sump. Went full rouge on my corals. All at once

WIReefer · Oct 9, 2020

moz71 said:
Just moved my to sump. Went full rouge on my corals. All at once

Good to know! Sorry about your corals!

JayLu · Oct 9, 2020

I got mine about two months ago. I don’t think it has eaten any Aiptasia so far, or at least not much. I have read they sometimes take time to start eating it, so I am still patiently waiting. Also, it is a very strange looking fish.

Pistondog · Oct 9, 2020

if I keep my filefish well fed, he doesn't touch the aptasia.

WIReefer · Oct 9, 2020

JayLu said:
I got mine about two months ago. I don’t think it has eaten any Aiptasia so far, or at least not much. I have read they sometimes take time to start eating it, so I am still patiently waiting. Also, it is a very strange looking fish.

I was thinking the same thing he is very strange looking

User1 · Oct 9, 2020

I've owned two. One a model reef tank fish the other semi and true to the 'with caution'. Both eradicated and/or managed my tanks aptasia problem. Meaning while the fish was in the tank there was little to no visible pest. Once the fish was removed it was noticeable.

Some notes:
1. Both are matted filefish (which I believe is Acreichthys tomentosus)
2. One was from LFS and unknown source
3. One was from Pacific East Aquaculture who only sells captive raised/bred - so it was from BIOTO and again Acreichthys tomentosus
4. First one was mature and probably a couple years old - hard to tell age when we don't ask or they don't offer it but I'd say 1 to 2 years a guess. Decent size and still grew in my tank
5. Second one was tiny - size of a quarter. Kept in a 5 gallon tank first for about a month then moved to my display
6. Both went after aptasia. Preferred spores and smaller size first. Medium second, and larger ones, well, it kept in check by eating tentacle's (more on this in a minute)
7. Great personality, always out, visible, changed color, ate all foods and continue to control aptasia
8. Both nipped at corals (soft, lps, and sps)
9. Both ate zoa's - I couldn't keep them
10. BIOTA one ate zoa's, small frogspawn frags, and duncan coral (remember the large aptasia and my comment on tentacle's? Duncan's have them and so I'm thinking maybe mine connected the dots - not sure just an observation because the base coral was left alone)

Probably sums it up. Owning one usually means you have a problem enough to warrant control. Shrimp are opportunistic feeders so typically second choice for me. I have seen them steal food from mouth type corals (elegance corals and bubble tip anemones). To the matted file fish one should consider the trade off and decide if it is an acceptable to mitigate the issue. They are great fish and do their respected job. Just known to nip corals. In fact there is a post from biota here and they noted their matted (which I used) filefish does indeed find duncan's tasteful ...

One interesting point worth noting. Goes for all of the "with caution" tagged fish. If the corals are mature enough such that they can outgrow the casual nipping then it becomes a moot point if they nip. Xenia, frogspawn, zoa's, or duncan's can out compete the drive by nips and it is no big deal. My first matted filefish was like this as it picked at my hammers but never hurt them. Whereas the 2nd one the corals are not mature enough so it caused issues (thus me returning to LFS).

Too long of a post - sorry. They work, they are great, be aware of some corals, and with-caution is for a reason. All the best!

xxkenny90xx · Oct 9, 2020

I used to have one. It never bothered any corals or aiptasia

Pistondog · Oct 9, 2020

WIReefer said:
I was thinking the same thing he is very strange looking

And strange acting. He'll spend hours with his nose buried in a corner.
He did have a clam close on his snout for about 20 minutes 2 weeks ago.
But the corner thing was before and after.
Like you said. Funny fish

Triple.T · Oct 9, 2020

I have had one for 3 months. He seldom nips st aiptasia lol. Buying 25 nudis Monday.

WIReefer · Oct 9, 2020

saf1 said:
I've owned two. One a model reef tank fish the other semi and true to the 'with caution'. Both eradicated and/or managed my tanks aptasia problem. Meaning while the fish was in the tank there was little to no visible pest. Once the fish was removed it was noticeable.

Some notes:
1. Both are matted filefish (which I believe is Acreichthys tomentosus)
2. One was from LFS and unknown source
3. One was from Pacific East Aquaculture who only sells captive raised/bred - so it was from BIOTO and again Acreichthys tomentosus
4. First one was mature and probably a couple years old - hard to tell age when we don't ask or they don't offer it but I'd say 1 to 2 years a guess. Decent size and still grew in my tank
5. Second one was tiny - size of a quarter. Kept in a 5 gallon tank first for about a month then moved to my display
6. Both went after aptasia. Preferred spores and smaller size first. Medium second, and larger ones, well, it kept in check by eating tentacle's (more on this in a minute)
7. Great personality, always out, visible, changed color, ate all foods and continue to control aptasia
8. Both nipped at corals (soft, lps, and sps)
9. Both ate zoa's - I couldn't keep them
10. BIOTA one ate zoa's, small frogspawn frags, and duncan coral (remember the large aptasia and my comment on tentacle's? Duncan's have them and so I'm thinking maybe mine connected the dots - not sure just an observation because the base coral was left alone)

Probably sums it up. Owning one usually means you have a problem enough to warrant control. Shrimp are opportunistic feeders so typically second choice for me. I have seen them steal food from mouth type corals (elegance corals and bubble tip anemones). To the matted file fish one should consider the trade off and decide if it is an acceptable to mitigate the issue. They are great fish and do their respected job. Just known to nip corals. In fact there is a post from biota here and they noted their matted (which I used) filefish does indeed find duncan's tasteful ...

One interesting point worth noting. Goes for all of the "with caution" tagged fish. If the corals are mature enough such that they can outgrow the casual nipping then it becomes a moot point if they nip. Xenia, frogspawn, zoa's, or duncan's can out compete the drive by nips and it is no big deal. My first matted filefish was like this as it picked at my hammers but never hurt them. Whereas the 2nd one the corals are not mature enough so it caused issues (thus me returning to LFS).

Too long of a post - sorry. They work, they are great, be aware of some corals, and with-caution is for a reason. All the best!

Thank you! I will report back with updates! He’s a pretty good size probably 1.5”-2”.

DanConnor · Oct 9, 2020

I had one and really enjoyed it. But I did think my current tank was just really bad at growing zoanthids, sympodium and other small softies, and I wondered why one flower anemone never had tentacles. Turns out they can really live a long time without tentacles. They are all grown back now.

leighla · Oct 9, 2020

Coolest fish. Everyone loves our filefish. They are curious and entertaining and a unique fish.
Mine didn’t eat apastia but did eat my rock flower nems. We’re all good now, but I was peeved for a few days!

najer · Oct 10, 2020

My not so little aip destroyer, I need to catch it and get it back to my lfs for their display, it took out my last big aip (RIP Fred) earlier in the week and cleaned a new frag overnight last night, it could have been the copperband, it has chewed some softies but they don't have any in their display.

authentic · Oct 10, 2020

After two years I put a few new zoa frags in my tank and my filefish are every dps in my tank

Zionas · Oct 10, 2020

WetWebMedia says they often have trouble accepting prepared foods. Have you guys found that to generally be true? And what about pairing the Matted Filefish?