Tasseled Filefish reef safe?

[Western_reefer]

Are Tasseled Filefish reef safe? Reef safe as in, wont touch tiny fish such as clown gobies, corals, gorgonians, sofites, LPS, SPS, sponges, rock anemones, bubble tip anemones, snapping shrimp, sally light foot crab, serpent starfish, ect?

 

[COreefer]

IMO...NO...its a hit or miss deal.

 

[vyger]

I got a small matted file fish a few weeks ago from the LFS cause the guy told me it would take care of the aptasia in my tank. Well it never touched the aptasia but ate the crap outta my cup coral , zoo's and decimated my Xenia. I am in the process of ripping my 65 gal tank apart to GET HIM OUT!!!
Does that answer your question LOL....IMO not worth the risk!!!

 

[Western_reefer]

I got a small matted file fish a few weeks ago from the LFS cause the guy told me it would take care of the aptasia in my tank. Well it never touched the aptasia but ate the crap outta my cup coral , zoo's and decimated my Xenia. I am in the process of ripping my 65 gal tank apart to GET HIM OUT!!!
Does that answer your question LOL....IMO not worth the risk!!!

Ah, gotcha. lol

 

[AquaKnight]

The problem with Tasseleds are that they're one of the larger species. While you might be able to purchase them small, they should grow pretty quickly to a decent size. Coral safeness will depend on the individual fish, but once any real size is put on, most mobile inverts are at risk.

 

[vyger]

Matted File Fish has a maximum size listed as 3 inches.???
I hope this is correct cause I plan to put him in a smaller tank
with some other fish..

 

[AquaKnight]

Matted File Fish has a maximum size listed as 3 inches.???
I hope this is correct cause I plan to put him in a smaller tank
with some other fish..

Check the names again,

Matted Filefish = Acreichthys tomentosus, max size, 4"

Tassled Filefish = Chaetodermis pencilligerus, max size, over a foot

 

[Western_reefer]

Thanks for all the help/info everyone! Guess I'm not going to get one. Don't want to risk it eating my corals.

 

[JGHA]

I have had two in my 250gal tank. The tank is a mixed reef Mainly dominated by sps and lps only a few softies zooanthids and clams. They were both reef safe and really fun to watch, the only problem with them was that they are not great swimmers and they got stuck to my pumps and overflow, had to remove them before they got killed. They were in my reef for about a month. They mainly spent their time on the top of the tank but they did swim in between the corals when I fed them.

 

[Dazeuponme]

I have a tasseled in my reef tank it he is fine. He like to ride the currents in the tank and nips at the rocks and sand. He has never touched my LPS and soft corals nor has he ate my shrimp. They (shrimp and file) are good size so that could be why. One time my coral banded snapped at him and he turned around and nipped him back, saw the whole thing it was funny. I do believe its hit or miss. Every single fish and invert have personalities of their own, as I have experienced. Remember a hungry filefish or tang or any fish or invert will find food elsewhere if you do not provide it to them. Filefish have high metabolisms therefore they need to be fed often. If your fish are thin they are underfed period. Keep them fat with a great mix of frozen and dried foods
and they will be happy and healthy

 

[vyger]

This thread is 7 yrs old!

 

[SeaCucumberFan]

Nononono. Ate my zoas and stuck himself in my feather dusters