Orange Spotted Filefish
- Thread starter Dizzle63
- Start date
isseym328
Premium Member
Andy thanks for the info. Definitely a lot to think about before I attempt purchasing a pair of these beautiful fishes. I have seen them every so often at the lfs, and never bought them because of their sps eating appetite. Now that I know they can be weaned on frozen food, and with your info, I might think about starting up another tank to get them acclimated first to frozen food. but still a lot to think about, I have a purple gigantea anemone in my tank and not sure if they'd be smart enough not to dive into it....
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
Lisa-- I don't know. Can you please send me a copy of your submissions guidelines so I can see what I'm getting myself into? 
isseym--No problem. These are just one of those fish species where you can't go in unprepared. The margin for error with these guys seems pretty slim.
isseym--No problem. These are just one of those fish species where you can't go in unprepared. The margin for error with these guys seems pretty slim.
Sanjay
Premium Member
Just a quick update. Almost 7 weeks now in my care, for the 5 of them. They have never seen coral since I got them. All 5 are alive and eating well. Lately, all I have been feeding them is PE mysis. It's a little big for them, but they eat it eventually. They are still in a 20G tank, bare bottom with no decorations in it, other than my attempt at building a spawning mop.
It seems to me, that at least in the short term they do not need coral to survive if you can get them eating other food. Long term, I have no idea how long they live if they get no coral to eat.
So far, I have not seen any serious aggression where a fish ends up with shredded fins, etc. There is some sparring and posturing, but nothing where another fish is hurt.
sanjay.
It seems to me, that at least in the short term they do not need coral to survive if you can get them eating other food. Long term, I have no idea how long they live if they get no coral to eat.
So far, I have not seen any serious aggression where a fish ends up with shredded fins, etc. There is some sparring and posturing, but nothing where another fish is hurt.
sanjay.
sorry, not sure, since I have just edited, not submitted yet. If you put something together in draft form, I volunteer to edit and make sure it fits all submission guidelines. I'd say look at some of the more recent Reefkeeping articles for a rough idea.
I'll bet orange spotted filefish would be a good project for an experienced aquarist that has raised clownfish or seahorse fry to adulthood. it seems like at least that much attention to detail and water quality would be needed for this species.
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
Cool. I appreciate it. Sanjay? I just don't know what I could say that Matt didn't already say in his very well-written _Coral_ article a few months ago.
I didn't realize it had already been thoroughly covered - hadn't seen the Coral article. Maybe there will be more to report in a couple years. This is a great thread, so please keep us all updated on your progress. I'm not ready to try this species yet, but maybe will give it a try in a few years, after I learn more and see how likely long term success would be under my care.
This is a great thread, so please keep us all updated on your progress. I'm not ready to try this species yet, but maybe will give it a try in a few years, after I learn more and see how likely long term success would be under my care.
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
thanx for the bump Lisa!
we just acquired a M-F pair 3 days ago, and altho i don't want to jinx it, they seem to be showing some promise already. to date, these fish will be our most difficult undertaking, but both of us have always been fascinated by oddball SW critters and this species is one of them that we feel is worth the extra effort.
the fish seem to have pair-bonded immediately, as there is absolutely no aggression between them. in fact, the female follows the male around much of the time, and they almost seem to "take turns" when picking/nosing at the food-slathered coral skeleton.
here are a few pix:
we just acquired a M-F pair 3 days ago, and altho i don't want to jinx it, they seem to be showing some promise already. to date, these fish will be our most difficult undertaking, but both of us have always been fascinated by oddball SW critters and this species is one of them that we feel is worth the extra effort.
the fish seem to have pair-bonded immediately, as there is absolutely no aggression between them. in fact, the female follows the male around much of the time, and they almost seem to "take turns" when picking/nosing at the food-slathered coral skeleton.
here are a few pix:
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
Good luck, Greg! You can see that they are pretty sunken along the spine and around the eyes. Not a whole lot of reserves. But if they are already eating, that's half the battle. Do they eat with gusto, or is it half-hearted picking?
Keep an eye on water quality. That really seemed to affect the appetite on mine. They ate much better after a water change.
Nice photos! I hope that's the first of many years worth of such beautiful photos for you.
Keep an eye on water quality. That really seemed to affect the appetite on mine. They ate much better after a water change.
Nice photos! I hope that's the first of many years worth of such beautiful photos for you.
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
yeah, i know they're a bit thin, but seem fairly "agreeable" to wanting to eat. i've got a source for browned-out acros, but it's a catch 22 at this point...if i give them the SPS, will they quit trying the alternatives? i plan on getting some of the other alternative foods for them to try as well. they do seem to go right to the slathered skelton, and i saw the female tear a good chunk off and eat it yesterday.
i can't take any credit for the pix...those are Renee's all the way. aquarium photography is her other passion.
IIRC, she basically said that she acquired the fish fat and healthy from a local source, and it more or less took right to eating. i imagine a huge part of the problem is the initial condition of the fish in question. by the time we get them, they basically have burned up their reserves, so timing is crucial.
the specimens we have weren't at the LFS more than 2 days, but are still on the thin side.
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
I have the feeling that they have a long trip through from collections to wholesalers before they get to the LFS. From what I heard, the might fine people (IMO) at Quality Marine do spend time trying to get the fish to eat at their facility. At least they did with mine, according to my LFS owner who had some talks with the person who cared for my fish.
Greg, if yours are tearing into pieces larger than their mouths, that's great news! That was a big bottleneck with mine, as they would only take foods they could swallow whole. Great! If they are taking frozen, I would not introduce live corals. No sense mixing them up unless they stop eating. Get 'em to the point where they could care less about the small amount of nutrition they can get off of a coral first.
Greg, if yours are tearing into pieces larger than their mouths, that's great news! That was a big bottleneck with mine, as they would only take foods they could swallow whole. Great! If they are taking frozen, I would not introduce live corals. No sense mixing them up unless they stop eating. Get 'em to the point where they could care less about the small amount of nutrition they can get off of a coral first.
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
I'm kind of embarrassed how easily sometimes.
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
Oh, no! Sanjay, I'm really sorry to hear that.... 
small alien
The fungus is among us.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15751895#post15751895 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by "Umm, fish?"
When one of my dragonface pipes took a bit bite of prawn roe for the first time, I pretty much did a dance in my living room. Sorry to hear you lost one of those wonderful fish.
