How is/was your matted filefish with coral in your reef

[dodgerblew]

Under consideration is the purchase of a matted filefish. I have some aiptasia, not hundreds like many report, but I do get some. I inject them with the RS Aiptasia-X on a weekly basis but in reading this sentence it's obvious they're coming back in a week but not spreading out of control.

My poll question is to get an overview of this fish in a reef with coral. I have a mixed reef with most emphasis on acans. I have an extensive collection which I've built up over time. I've tried some species of fish which many call "reef safe" or "reef safe with caution" including a small Lamarck angel, baby foxface and the reef safe heniochus diphreutes and all in a short period of time acquired a taste for my LPS causing me damage and headache. If you can post up your experience of this fishes behavior and if a nipper or chopper, what was its taste for. If you can also post size of tank, that'd be helpful too. I have a 60 cube so 24" x 3. I know that in smaller tanks you can get more tendencies to have issues.

Thanks in advance

 

[snorvich]

No problems with coral. However no interest in aiptasia.

 

[SDguy]

I had two... no problem with any coral (years). Ate majanos.... I didn't have any aptasia.

 

[3FordFamily]

I had two, one ate mushrooms and zoas and the other was a model citizen. I casted my vote for model citizen.

 

[dodgerblew]

So far, so good. Thanks

 

[3FordFamily]

And that filefish ate only mojanos and aiptasia until they were exhausted and then moved to shrooms and Zoas as I said. I think he ate Xenia also

 

[MIKE NY]

Had two also never touched any coral including my current one. Both also ate aiptasia ....I feed heavily which probably helps

 

[swhobbie1]

Had two. Ate aipstasia and frozen foods. Then ate several acans, favia, hypnotic polyps, green polyps while getting frozen. Didn't have SPS at the time.

 

[dodgerblew]

Had two. Ate aipstasia and frozen foods. Then ate several acans, favia, hypnotic polyps, green polyps while getting frozen. Didn't have SPS at the time.

Not what I want to read but thanks for the input. I need to make an informed decision

 

[saf1]

Mine eats aptasia for sure. Cleared it all out. Also eats black worms, blood worms, and frozen. I have zoas but not sure how he interacts. I would say overall he did his job and should be removed but I like him. If it eats something oh well...

My fault, not his...

 

[biomek]

love my filefish. slayed all of my aiptasia in less than a month and hasn't touched any of my corals. awesomely odd fish

 

[SecretiveFish]

Mine was a model citizen for over a year and did a really good job keeping the aiptasia at bay. He then decided LPSs were delicious and had to go... I miss him... He was a cool looking fish.

 

[montrealreef]

i've had mine in a 120 G mixed reef tank for 2.5 years with SPS, LPS, mushrooms, zoanthids and clams... ate all aiptasia in the tank..has not touched any corals, but has occasionally went after my cleaner shrimp and snails ...

 

[SoloChromis]

Following. I love filefish and would love to add a pair or several to my reef :beer:

 

[dodgerblew]

My biggest concern in reading these poll results is that it seems most if not all the positives were with filefish that were in larger tanks. Mines only a 60 and definitely limited in swimming space in relation to these larger boxes. The one I'm getting also has a clean rap sheet from the current owner but it also was in a 100g plus tank

 

[dodgerblew]

If it doesn't work out, trapping it shouldn't be to difficult and rehoming it shouldn't be an issue either. I just don't want it to be snacking on $100+ polyps of acans before I realize it's not working out

 

[SecretiveFish]

My biggest concern in reading these poll results is that it seems most if not all the positives were with filefish that were in larger tanks. Mines only a 60 and definitely limited in swimming space in relation to these larger boxes. The one I'm getting also has a clean rap sheet from the current owner but it also was in a 100g plus tank

Mine was in a 150g... Tank size is not always a deterrent.

I am highly tempted to try one again, those filefish are just so cool!

 

[dodgerblew]

I've committed to giving it a shot. I hope that it works out.

Another question I have is, do the aiptasia return in the same fashion as when using the injectable treatments, etc or are the filefish able to eradicate to the point where if you remove the fish and rehome it to another aiptasia garden the aiptasia doesn't return? I'm asking the experienced who have removed after a period of time for various reasons once aiptasia was gone

 

[Guygettnby]

Never had an issue with mine. Did great in my frag tank for a long time, then my display tank for over a year until I sold my tank.

 

[Yogre]

I've committed to giving it a shot. I hope that it works out.

Another question I have is, do the aiptasia return in the same fashion as when using the injectable treatments, etc or are the filefish able to eradicate to the point where if you remove the fish and rehome it to another aiptasia garden the aiptasia doesn't return? I'm asking the experienced who have removed after a period of time for various reasons once aiptasia was gone

I think I can kinda sorta answer this. My first matted filefish was hell on wheels with aiptasia, she had eliminated them within a month. She was also a bit of a coral nipper, chewing on my big birdsnest from time to time. She was also prone to nip my rock flower anemones, who didn't care for the attention at all.

Well, she passed away of unknown causes about 4 months ago. Since then, I've been seeing all kinds of small aiptasia blossoms popping up. I get the impression aiptasia are like herpes, once you've got 'em you've got 'em forever.

I have another matted filefish who just joined the show tank community after quarantine, we'll see how this individual does with aiptasia and corals.