Are matted filefish terrifying?

[Daniel Reef]

Peter, how is your matted filefish doing? Does he nip at your SPS or LPS?

 

[reefjunkie42]

mine used to eat my leathers in the back.

 

[Woogiekids]

Peter, it took mine a few weeks to start munching on the aiptasia. Bow I just rotate him between tanks and he demolishes them.

 

[SDguy]

I actually bought two... I'm bretty sure they are male/female. The female is a really picky eater, and was REALLY skinny at the store, but looks to slowly be getting better in the tank. I haven't noticed either eating any majanos yet. Neither touches any of my corals.

 

[Daniel Reef]

Thanks Peter for the update. Please keep us updated on your matted FF pair. I'm interested in this fish and wanted to know how reef safe it is. So far I have heard mixed reviews.

 

[sanchoy]

I have 2, They chase eachother around once in awhile, but never dared to size up to any other fish. They picked at my Acans though.. but would not dare to go against other fish.

 

[SDguy]

I have 2, They chase eachother around once in awhile, but never dared to size up to any other fish. They picked at my Acans though.. but would not dare to go against other fish.

That actually makes me more hopeful that I have a pair, since they never show any aggression at all to each other, and I would think the big fat one would kick the crap out of the skinny picky eater if it wanted to

 

[SDguy]

So I took the time to really search carefully throughout the tank. Having a hard time finding majanos! The few I can find are sucked into cracks too small I think for the filefish's mouth to get to. I wonder if the majanos will live like that, or try to move, and then get eaten. Either way, I'm extremely happy with the results. My tank was getting pretty badly infested.

 

[Daniel Reef]

Great news!!

 

[Vlado4x4]

Are Matted Filefish any threat to small shrimp ? I have a couple of them, different species.

 

[SDguy]

I personally don't have any shrimp in my tank.

 

[FishAddict87]

I was thinking the same thing. I have manajos spreading on my rocks right now and I was already eyeing this fish for the past few months but dont want to risk my cleaner and camel shrimp...the uniqueness of this fish makes me so attracted to it i think

 

[SDguy]

BTW, how do you tell a female from a male in this species?

Oh, and here's a pic:

Just make sure you get the right kind. FYI this picture ^^^ is of a fanbelly filefish, not a matted filefish

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2101973&highlight=fanbelly

 

[Vlado4x4]

Could anyone tell me if this is a true matted filefish ?
Bought him about 3 weeks ago, and refuses to eat aiptasia. I have a whole bunch of them.
He nips at the rock like trying to get copepods or something like that, but no aiptasia

 

[Monkeyfish]

Looks like one to me.

 

[Vlado4x4]

Is it normal like the CBB that one can and other dosen't ? Or the matted filefish is a must that all eat aiptasia ?

 

[SDguy]

Is it normal like the CBB that one can and other dosen't ? Or the matted filefish is a must that all eat aiptasia ?

IME it takes a little time, and they are also pretty ninja about it... I can't recall seeing mine actually eating any majanos, but they still just disappeared...

 

[Vlado4x4]

And this happened with any size of majanos or aiptasia ? Cause i have all sort of sizes. Last week i did a major killing with aiptasia x from red sea, but i still can't reach some of the big ones