Orange spotted FileFish.

[zoanthidtoxins]

I have heard mixed opinion on this species of fish. I like the orange spotted file, but am uncetain of putting into my established reef system. I do not have many stony corals and mostly passive fish.

Any thoughts or personal experince with this species will be helpful..
Thanks

 

[pinkie]

No personal experience, but I hear that they need to eat SPS corals to survive, and do very poorly in home aquariums. Typically a species that is better suited for the wild IMO.

 

[Chibils]

Is that in reference to orange-spotted, or filefish in general? Because I held the same opinion until someone mentioned that only certain filefish are specialized polyp feeders.

 

[pinkie]

I was talking about the species he referenced, the orange spotted filefish.

 

[danfrith]

They will eat most of your SPS if givin the chance. In an aquarium without SPS corals it is possible to keep them on a normal aquarium food diet, just takes some time to get them to feed, I've even heard of an aquarist getting them to feed on flake food.

 

[jay2525]

^^^^almost unheard of though...leave them in the ocean

 

[Chibils]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12606322#post12606322 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pinkie
I was talking about the species he referenced, the orange spotted filefish.

Wasn't trying to contradict you, just wondering myself.

 

[zemuron114]

they feed exclusively on SPS polyps. I have never heard of anyone keeping one long term without SPS in the tank. Energy on RC i believe has one, but he has a 1500 gallon tank with a ridiculous amount of SPS. They are very common in the wild but will not live in captivity.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12606527#post12606527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danfrith
They will eat most of your SPS if givin the chance. In an aquarium without SPS corals it is possible to keep them on a normal aquarium food diet, just takes some time to get them to feed, I've even heard of an aquarist getting them to feed on flake food.

I have never heard/read about anyone doing this.

 

[triggerfish1976]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12608719#post12608719 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
I have never heard/read about anyone doing this.

I have seen this done but they still die since they are not getting their required nutrition from flake food.

 

[kdblove_99]

Heard there aquarium life is very short. Just not a good fish for aquariums. like clown tangs, rock beautys, etc

 

[jmaccvols]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12608705#post12608705 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
they feed exclusively on SPS polyps. I have never heard of anyone keeping one long term without SPS in the tank. Energy on RC i believe has one, but he has a 1500 gallon tank with a ridiculous amount of SPS. They are very common in the wild but will not live in captivity.

From this link [next to last post] 'Energy' said it ate prepared foods "just fine".

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1379891

 

[SDguy]

But it was also eating coral polyps (and quite a bit of them from the sound of it), so his experience still tells us nothing about the ability to keep this fish alive only on prepared foods.

 

[jmaccvols]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12613024#post12613024 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
But it was also eating coral polyps (and quite a bit of them from the sound of it), so his experience still tells us nothing about the ability to keep this fish alive only on prepared foods.

But there are some success stories out there as this one on wetwebmedia, [fourth letter down to "Bob Fenner" from "Terri"]:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/filefaqs.htm

I don't know how long "Energy" had his before getting rid of it.

 

[danfrith]

How about this:
http://www.marinebreeder.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1922

 

[jmaccvols]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12613571#post12613571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danfrith
How about this:
http://www.marinebreeder.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1922

This guy knows what he is doing. I believe this same guy bred and raised some mandarins earlier this year.

 

[SDguy]

Thanks for the link. I've never seen that website. I can now say I have read of someone doing this

Regardless if you even manage to scrape together 5 short term success stories, 10 even...Unfortunately, that's still a miserable rate of success, and I will continue to recommend that these fish not be kept in captivity. A shame, since they are so unique/attractive.

 

[zemuron114]

the ornate butterfly will eat prepared foods at a young age but will never live long term without coral polyps. There are no documented cases that im aware of, of long term success rates with either of these fish. Just because it eats prepared foods doesn't mean it will gain any sustenance from the food and be able to survive off of it.