Help id Tilefish
- Thread starter RJT
- Start date
ilikefish34
New member
Came across this thread while searching for some information on Purple Tilefish. Figured I'd give it a bump rather than start a new thread to see if anyone else has some more care giving information such as QT, tank size, tank-mates, flow and feedings.
eatbreakfast
New member
Most tilefish can be housed in a 50g or larger.
They are found around reef rubble and utilize sand for burrows in the wild, so open space and at least 3" of sand are a must.
They do well in the company of other tiles, and are generally not aggressive. The only exceptions would be to similar fish during feeding.
Other non aggressive reef safe fish are great tankmates as few fish bother tiles and vice versa.
Feed meaty foods such as mysis, enriched brine, and cyclopeeze. I have also been able to quickly train any tiles I have owned to accept flakes and pellets.
I have also seen tiles adapt to a variety of flows, being in both LPS and SPS dominated tanks.
They are found around reef rubble and utilize sand for burrows in the wild, so open space and at least 3" of sand are a must.
They do well in the company of other tiles, and are generally not aggressive. The only exceptions would be to similar fish during feeding.
Other non aggressive reef safe fish are great tankmates as few fish bother tiles and vice versa.
Feed meaty foods such as mysis, enriched brine, and cyclopeeze. I have also been able to quickly train any tiles I have owned to accept flakes and pellets.
I have also seen tiles adapt to a variety of flows, being in both LPS and SPS dominated tanks.
ilikefish34
New member
Eatbreakfast... Thank you for the great straightforward information. Are there any recommendations for QT? I would normally treat with prazipro and cupramine unless they are known to do poorly with copper.
Also, do any of these species have a better captive reputation over the others or, for the most part, are they each on the same level with same/similar requirements?... A pair of Purple Tilefish have certainly have my attention.
Also, do any of these species have a better captive reputation over the others or, for the most part, are they each on the same level with same/similar requirements?... A pair of Purple Tilefish have certainly have my attention.
mr.maroonsalty
New member
I wouldn't rule out the other species:
RJT
Member
My experience with them is that are very durable. They handle prazipro easily, eats everything including nori and is always out if there is another tilefish in the tank.
I had a red stripe and a grey tile fish that got along immediately. They are amazing jumpers. I had a pair of red stripe that somehow became attached to the return pump. I still haven't figured out how that happened since I have a glass holes overflow that was covered with mesh and a 1/4 in net over the tank.
Their mouths are larger than they appear. A single 4in tilefish can eat an entire cube of mysis.
I had a red stripe and a grey tile fish that got along immediately. They are amazing jumpers. I had a pair of red stripe that somehow became attached to the return pump. I still haven't figured out how that happened since I have a glass holes overflow that was covered with mesh and a 1/4 in net over the tank.
Their mouths are larger than they appear. A single 4in tilefish can eat an entire cube of mysis.
mr.maroonsalty
New member
They are jumpers; I've picked mine up twice now during feeding. Care has to be taken they have a double razor sharp spine on their gill plate that they turn eel-like into your hand. The large Carribean vr. made great tough bait for the hook and were quite plentiful handling them is done with a small club. My canopy is covered on top, and I hear them jump almost everyday.
ilikefish34
New member
mr.maroonsalty, I was admiring your two in the "favorite pairs and trios" thread which is what got me back on the Tilefish kick.
How many can be mixed from different species? I saw where krkqm2008 mentioned having several Tilefish from various species, but I couldn't tell from the comment if they were kept at the same time and in the same aquarium. If one were to have two pairs of two species, would there be fighting, would they school or would each pair stay together and ignore the other pair? If it could work, what would be the minimum tank size for two pairs?
FWIW, I plan on trying one pair in my 210 mixed reef but curious about that aspect of Tilefish.
How many can be mixed from different species? I saw where krkqm2008 mentioned having several Tilefish from various species, but I couldn't tell from the comment if they were kept at the same time and in the same aquarium. If one were to have two pairs of two species, would there be fighting, would they school or would each pair stay together and ignore the other pair? If it could work, what would be the minimum tank size for two pairs?
FWIW, I plan on trying one pair in my 210 mixed reef but curious about that aspect of Tilefish.
eatbreakfast
New member
In the wild tilefish are found as pairs or loose groups. In captivity you can keep as many tiles as you would like, even if added at different times.
mr.maroonsalty
New member
I remember in my study that purples were said to be a bit more aggressive to new introductions, but a lot of the things I learned don't fit my experience: my tilefish are hardly shy; they are out in the open most of the time. My fish have never even tried building a borough; I build a sand area in my build, a sandbox of sorts, added a bunch of rubble and a larger flat rock for the to use and dig under. My two live in my stack. It seemed to me that having a pair certainly helped at least one of my two make it. I also remember reading they have been observed swimming in the open with anthias; mine seem to hang with the Stocky trio in my tank. Six months with a fish hardly qualifies me for a "primer," I've made six months now and am now hoping for a year.
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Marine fish man
New member
If it is a gray tile fish than it is the one I have and it is a dusky tilefish
