Matted File Fish question

[Dkuhlmann]

I got a Matted File Fish just over a week ago. It's about 2 1/2" and very active in picking at the rocks and eats frozen mysis, frozen mix and NLS pellets like a pig. I've seen him test taste aiptasia but hasn't actually started eating them yet. He's been here 11 days now.

My real question isn't about eating aiptasia, although I hope he does soon, but it's about do Matted File Fish eat bristle worms? I use to see bunches of them anytime I fed my fish and in the last few days I don't see any. I also got a large Royal Gramma at the same time but he stays in his part of the tank only to really venture when feeding time to chase mysis around the flow. He's a pig too

So are these File fish eaters of bristle worms since I've never actually seen him eat one.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Nobody?

 

[Sapelo]

Well...I keep a slender filefish in my 300 and had a matted in my 90 before this. I cannot say that I ever saw either fish pick at a bristle worm BUT both hunted the rock constantly and both were/are very active at night so...I suppose it's totally possible.
I think it's probably more likely that you are experiencing one of those natural ebb and flows of CUC members rather than the decimation of them by a filefish.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

You know I thought about the ebb and flow thing, but haven't been feeding any less to my fish and same with corals. If anything I'm feeding more now that I've got 8 fish in my tank and feed them 3x per day. I use to see dozens of them pop out from under the rocks and grab pellets or mysis etc and now nothing. I've pulled some frags to get the bubble algae off of them and do see small ones under them or on the plug.

Yeah they do pick at rocks all day, until feeding time. Mines a PIG for mysis. I tried once with Nori but he didn't touch it. I'll try again another time.

 

[lespaul339]

I've been thinking about adding a Matted Filefish to my tank as well. My Copperband used to eat them, but after pulling him out to treat for ich the aiptasia spread in my tank really quick. Now that he's back in my DT, of course he doesn't have an appetite for them any more :face palm:

 

[Sapelo]

I would think that the fact that you're seeing small worms on your plugs is a good sign, they are still in the tank.
Both of my filefish ate/eat nori but I don't consider it a huge part of their diet. I feed nori for the tangs and if the filefish eats some then good for him.

Honestly I would assume that since bristle worms tend to be pretty hidden the filefish would have trouble making a significant impact on their population.
It will be interesting to see what your observations are regarding the population size and count in say 6-8 weeks.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Now if he would only start eating the aiptasia. :hammer:

I saw him peck at one and he immediately swam backwards fast. So not sure if it was anything more than it stinging him? Who knows, but I just ordered more Aiptasia X to see if I can't get rid of several of the larger ones that will be easy to get to.

 

[lespaul339]

Does that aiptasia X really work? I've used kalk paste in the past and didn't really think that worked too well. They always seemed to bounce back.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I'm not sure if it works well or not, but I ordered some this morning and will find out when I get it and will make a thread on it. I will probably be sorry that I didn't order Joe's Juice, but we'll see.

 

[BigJohnny]

I find aiptasia x works if administered correctly which is usually difficult ime. If the aiptasia doesn't implode, you messed up. I've been using it in my 50g and still can't get rid of all the little buggers.

For me it's really hard to release just enough for the anemone to grab onto the syringe so you can pump it/cover the whole oral disk. Usually I spray it out too fast and the anemone retracts (atleast partially) instead of grabbing on, which usually leads to me freaking out and just covering it. Then it either releases babies because of that interaction or just hides and comes back out later once it's all gone (sometimes this can take a week or two and I get fooled into thinking it's gone). Sometimes they die from that but if you dont seal the whole oral disc immediately, you can probably count on the fact that they released a bunch of new guys.

If done properly, the anemone will implode fairly quickly, which is very satisfying. It's not that I'm clumsy or that the syringe is bad, it's just really hard to manipulate the syringe that gently when your in an awkward position/angle underwater.

I think if you are aggressive with the aiptasia x initially, and you try to only apply it once the anemone has grabbed on, you will have success. Unfortunately for me, everytime I use it now I mess up a lot and some always come back and new ones always pop up. Argh!