Rhino leatherjacket / Pseudalutarius nasicornis

[Mike J]

Hi there,
This is my first post on RC.

I have a Rhino leatherjacket (Pseudalutarius nasicornis) for about a month now and I would like to hear the experience of people here, who also keep or has kept this filefish.

When I introduced the fish to the tank it was under attack by the OSFF male, but it still kept eating like a pig. After a couple of days they accepted eachother. My other filefish, a blackbar filefish (P. janthinosoma) didn't even look at it.

It eats all kinds of pellets and frozen foods.

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeKlUGUqvdc

 

[SDguy]

Very neat. I saw these at a LFS a while back. Had no clue what they were!

 

[treylane]

Have seen them in person a few times, they seem to handle being kept in groups pretty well, while many other kinds of files don't appreciate each other's company. And a great find because they're a smallish species. The only other person I know that's kept them is Dominic from Diamonds of the Reef, maybe it's worth sending him a note?

I'm really curious to know how they behave around corals though -- with a mouth like that I worried for zoanthids. Have you noticed any nipping?

 

[Monkeyfish]

Beautiful fish. Wish they were available around here.

 

[Mike J]

Have seen them in person a few times, they seem to handle being kept in groups pretty well, while many other kinds of files don't appreciate each other's company. And a great find because they're a smallish species. The only other person I know that's kept them is Dominic from Diamonds of the Reef, maybe it's worth sending him a note?

I'm really curious to know how they behave around corals though -- with a mouth like that I worried for zoanthids. Have you noticed any nipping?

Thanks, I'll send an e-mail to Diamonds of the Reef.
They seem to stay in small groups when they're juvenile, but adults are usually found in couples.
You're right about the mouth, unfortunately he nips at zoanthids and duncanopsammia.
He seems to like the blue and grey zoanthids. I also have red and pink zoanthids that he hasn't touched yet.

 

[Mike J]

Have seen them in person a few times, they seem to handle being kept in groups pretty well, while many other kinds of files don't appreciate each other's company. And a great find because they're a smallish species. The only other person I know that's kept them is Dominic from Diamonds of the Reef, maybe it's worth sending him a note?

I'm really curious to know how they behave around corals though -- with a mouth like that I worried for zoanthids. Have you noticed any nipping?

Thanks, I'll send an e-mail to Diamonds of the Reef.
They seem to stay in small groups when they're juvenile, but adults are usually found in couples.
You're right about the mouth, unfortunately he nips at zoanthids and duncanopsammia.
He seems to like the blue and grey zoanthids. I also have red and pink zoanthids that he hasn't touched yet.

 

[Monkeyfish]

How have things worked out with the Rhino? I have a OSFF and a Tassled and am considering getting a Rhino for my 180. Kinda worried about how they'll do together though.

 

[rssjsb]

Monkeyfish, are your OSFF and tassled in a reef? I've got an OSFF pair and would love to introduce a tassled or some other type of file. How do they get along with each other?

To the OP, I am also interested in how the rhino is doing and whether it's limited its nipping to zoanthids and duncans. What about other inverts?

 

[Monkeyfish]

Monkeyfish, are your OSFF and tassled in a reef? I've got an OSFF pair and would love to introduce a tassled or some other type of file. How do they get along with each other?

To the OP, I am also interested in how the rhino is doing and whether it's limited its nipping to zoanthids and duncans. What about other inverts?

The tassled and OSFF are in a softy reef - xenia, gsp, leathers, mushrooms, colt, etc. They will occasionally pick at the leather polyps, but never do any damage. They never bother any of the other inverts (shrimp, crabs, snails, etc) except for mini brittle stars which the tassled finds delicious!

 

[rssjsb]

Mmmmmmm . . . delicious brittle stars . . . . My toby finds them irresistible as well.

Mike J., I noticed that you've got OSFF, too. Any issues in introducing the new file to them? My OSFF were completely ignored by the other fish in this tank when I introduced them. I don't know how the OSFF would respond to the introduction of a rhino or tassled, though.

 

[Monkeyfish]

The tasseled is a different shape and eats different foods so I don't see an issue there. The OSFF might not like the rhino - same shape, same appetite.

 

[Mike J]

Mmmmmmm . . . delicious brittle stars . . . . My toby finds them irresistible as well.

Mike J., I noticed that you've got OSFF, too. Any issues in introducing the new file to them? My OSFF were completely ignored by the other fish in this tank when I introduced them. I don't know how the OSFF would respond to the introduction of a rhino or tassled, though.

Sorry for the late response! I totally forgot this thread.
I had to move the nasicornis to another tank as it ate almost all softcorals.

When I introduced the nasicornis to the tank, the osff reacted very agressive, but that was only just for 2 days.

I still have the pair of osff, a pair of Acreichthys radiatus and a Pervagor janthinosoma. Both pairs are healthy and spawning.

 

[Myles]

What are the A. radiatus like? I've been tempted by them several times but know nothing about their husbandry although I assume they are similar the aptasia eating file.
Myles