Suggestions required: Matted file fish

[101010]

Hi, I have a 24inch cube reef tank containing mushrooms, zoas and lps. And i can see that a few aptasia that I left unchecked has starting taking hold of the tank and has spread to a level that is very different to take care of manually. So I am planning to introduce a matted filefish but I'm not sure if that would be a good move ?? Kindly suggest so that I can decide accordingly

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[phenom5]

I had a matted filefish, and it was fantastic at removing aiptasia. Once the aiptasia numbers started to dwindle, it immediately turned on my zoas.

It'll definitely work on pest anemones, but IME they will eat corals. Wasn't too hard to catch and remove, but not as easy as some people make it out to be either.

 

[Grayhead]

Mine keeps my display clean. My last tank had a ton of palys. I wanted them out and that fish handled the load. I recently introduced 3 zoa frags. So far so good. Saw it picking at a brain coral once. So I would say, hit or miss with them

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I just had great success with a peppermint shrimp. It has wiped out a huge number of aiptasias, all by itself. I've also had success with a file fish, but as pointed out, they go after other, desirable stuff too.

 

[rjjr1963]

I've had 3 of the matted file fish and they all ate my aiptasia. On one occasion I saw them nip on a brain coral.

 

[ghostman]

I had a matted filefish in the past, with no issues. Ate all my aiptasia and never touched a zoa or other coral.

 

[Fourstars]

Love my filefish. They can tank raise them now, so that's the best choice. This is my second one and never had an issue with him.

 

[Aslmx]

Good info. I’m looking to get one also. I’d love to have a CBB but afraid it won’t make it