Tassle file fish under attack!

[ntropics]

My tassle filefish had coexisted with my auriga butterflyfish and naso tang and others, for several months, but occasionally they seemed to mistake him for algae and took nips at him. Well someone took a big bite out out of his dorsal fin yesterday, and he can't swim any longer! He just floats with the current and tries to get somewhere, but eventually gives up and is stuck to the outflow or wherever. I put him in my refugium to keep him safe from attack, but even the current there is proving too strong. Needless to say, he's not eating at this point.
Is this fish a goner? I hope not, he is really a sweet fish. Does anyone know if there is even hope that under calm conditions his fins could grow back?

Thanks
Bruce

 

[Wolverine]

Depending on the amount of damage, and the overall health of the fish, he may be able to grow it back. Long term, you're probably going to have to find a new home for him. They don't fair well in tanks with fish that pick at those tassles.

 

[ntropics]

Unfortunately he died. I really was surprised that the other fish went for him. So much for camouflage. It is sad, because "Fuzzy" was such a nice fish! I wonder if he were bigger would he have scared away the others better, but I doubt it. The auriga is the smallest fish in the tank and the most feisty.

Bruce

 

[small alien]

I don't think that's what their camouflage is for.sorry about your fish.

 

[Dubaidogfish]

I had one if these they are hugely incompatible with cleaner wrasse who regard then as a floating buffet of tassles. Poor thing would try all sorts of acrobatics to get away

 

[Dromon]

Poor fishy. Interesting about the butterfly though. They often can be difficult to start with (feeding, settling in) but they can get quite feisty as you said.

 

[ntropics]

The auriga butterfly is a great fish! About a year ago, the tank crashed due to a deep sand bed release of Hydrogen sulfide. So I redid it. I am setting up a Hawaiian biotope, with some coral, so no more auriga butterfly, and of course, no more tassle file fish. My feelings on the tassle is that it can definitely be a target mistaken for algae by a number of normally not terribly aggressive fish. A nibble here and there, and before you know it, it stops eating and dies.

It is a great fish for the right tank, although it does get quite big. I loved it the short time I had it. Here is a link of the tank from six years ago, when it was thriving. The tassle file fish is in there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeCtGBhmQjU

Bruce

 

[Dromon]

Beautiful video. Thanks for sharing.

 

[BlueMac92]

My buddy had a show sized one in his "reef" and, although it did well for awhile, it eventually fell victim to picking. They are awesome fish, just not compatible with grazers.