Matted filefish vs Duncan ?

[Vlado4x4]

I have a 10+ head Duncan, really really healthy, growing like crazy. About 2 months ago I added a matted filefish.
Have never seen the filefish pic at any of my aiptasia infestation, but today I saw him pic at the duncan.

Can it cause any damage ? Should I take any precautions ?

Thanks

 

[aftershock]

I would definitely take action. I added a matted file to my tank as aiptasia got really out of control. He took care of all of it in a week, but my duncan frag (~4 heads) also never opened up again. Never saw it actually nip at the coral, but I blame the duncans demise on the file. be careful..

 

[Vlado4x4]

Thanks for the advise. As stated i have had the matted filefish for over a month allready, and have never seen him eat or nip at any of the aiptasia. Have a couple of them really big, should i go aiptasia-x on them, or does the filefish eat big aiptasia ?

I wonder if i get a CBB if he will also pic at the duncan ....

 

[SecretiveFish]

IME, my matted filefish did not go after the large aiptasia. I saw him eat a few small ones and that has been it.

I would Aiptasia-X all of the aiptasia you can get and then let the filefish get the little ones.

 

[jlschweda1971]

My tank was getting overtaken by the aiptasia. I was using Aiptasia -X to get rid of them, but like so many people have told me if you dont hit the central disc of the aiptasia it will break up into tiny pieces and reproduce.

I finally decided to get a filefish to take care of the Aiptasia. He did a wonderful job! There was a very large one growing on the back of the tank, which I could not reach. I watched him for a day or two to get to work. I guess it took him a couple of days to get comfortable because I started seeing him pick at the rocks that had the aiptasia. I was only going to be convinced when the huge one in the back of the tank was gone. I was so happy when I woke up one morning and it was gone. There was still a brown mark still there, so I thought it would regrow. Later that day, he came back and cleaned the glas right up! All aiptasia is gone.

Thats been a couple of weeks, and then just today I noticed my duncans werent opening up. I noticed the filefish get going back to the duncans and was picking at them. Right now, I have a net over the duncans so he can't get to them. I'm going to try and catch him tonight and put him in QT. At this point, I dont know if the duncans can be saved or not. I'm going to very upset if I can't save them because they are my favorite.

P.S. If you want to borrow him, I can lend him to your tank

 

[jlschweda1971]

My tank was getting overtaken by the aiptasia. I was using Aiptasia -X to get rid of them, but like so many people have told me if you dont hit the central disc of the aiptasia it will break up into tiny pieces and reproduce.

I finally decided to get a filefish to take care of the Aiptasia. He did a wonderful job! There was a very large one growing on the back of the tank, which I could not reach. I watched him for a day or two to get to work. I guess it took him a couple of days to get comfortable because I started seeing him pick at the rocks that had the aiptasia. I was only going to be convinced when the huge one in the back of the tank was gone. I was so happy when I woke up one morning and it was gone. There was still a brown mark still there, so I thought it would regrow. Later that day, he came back and cleaned the glas right up! All aiptasia is gone.

Thats been a couple of weeks, and then just today I noticed my duncans werent opening up. I noticed the filefish get going back to the duncans and was picking at them. Right now, I have a net over the duncans so he can't get to them. I'm going to try and catch him tonight and put him in QT. At this point, I dont know if the duncans can be saved or not. I'm going to very upset if I can't save them because they are my favorite.

P.S. If you want to borrow him, I can lend him to your tank