Matted Filefish, Reef safe?

[ReefsandGeeks]

I'm not new to the hobby, but never considered a file fish before. I just got a new tank last night that came with a pair of small (1") Matted Filefish. I had a mixed reef, zoas and SPS coral mostly which I moved all to the new tank. I have the filefish as well as some other critters that I know aren't reef safe in a bucket with LR and an airstone for today.

Since I already have the filefish, would it be worth trying them in my tank? I hate to have to give them away as they are cool, and if I can safely keep them I'd like to. If I put them into my tank and they turn out to be nipping at my coral, are they hard to catch without removing all of my LR? If not I think I'd be more likely to give them a try.

 

[winschuc]

I keep one in my sump/fuge for aiptasia control on my LR. It was in my DT for a few months and I cant decide if it was the culprit to declining LPS, or the copperband. I removed both and the LPS is starting to grow again.

I suppose it can be hit or miss. They're kindof a PITA to catch though.

 

[Sk8r]

Copperband was likely your culprit. Matted filefish seems fine in a reef.

 

[RynoParsons]

ive seen them eating polyps

 

[GimpyFin]

I keep one in my sump/fuge for aiptasia control on my LR. It was in my DT for a few months and I cant decide if it was the culprit to declining LPS, or the copperband. I removed both and the LPS is starting to grow again.

I suppose it can be hit or miss. They're kindof a PITA to catch though.

They can be hit and miss. I really like mine, but I wouldn't classify them as reef safe, especially with LPS and possibly zoas. Mine mowed through the aiptasia in the tank and then decided to wreck an open brain I had for almost 2 years and started on an acan before I pulled him and put him in my smaller tank with no corals. Although, my experience catching him was quite the opposite. At night they sometimes find a spot like in a corner or something and just stay there stationary which can make them easy to net if you're sneaky.

 

[hkgar]

I got mine for Majano control over a year ago. The Manjanos are gone, he is still in the tank and bothers nothing. Niples on Nori and the other food and leaves all inverts and corals alone.

 

[Sapelo]

I've had two and never had a problem with either, but I've heard instances of people who have.
That said, I love mine; cool fish.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

My last Matted filefish was eating my blasto's and nothing else. Funny though when I saw him doing it I went to the tank and he skittered away like he knew he was doing wrong. Then 10 mins later I was watching the tank from a distance and there he was back again eating on my blasto's.

These guy's are easy to catch since they sleep like they're dead :lmao: I just got up before the lights on the next morning and he was sleeping against the top corner of the tank and I grabbed him with my hand and put him in the sump. I wound up giving him to a buddy and how I need my filefish back for the aiptasia :hammer: Maybe I'll try one of the ORA TR ones and see if that doesn't work out better.

So to answer your story they're great fish UNLESS they take a liking to other corals, some never touch anything else but food given to them and aiptasia.

 

[ReefsandGeeks]

Thanks for the responses. I ended up putting both filefish in the tank and they seem to be doing great so far. They don't bother any of the coral yet, though they've only been in the tank a half day.