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07/10/2011, 06:10 PM | #1 |
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Aiptasia Eating Filefish (acreichthys tomentosus)
I just perchased mine a couple of days ago from the, which I consider to be the best, LFS. Their live stock is top notch. This fish was in a tank, for over a month, where they keep traded in live rock and coral to clear it of aiptasia. After trying Aiptasia-X without much luck and after my skunk cleaner shrimp killed three pepermint shrimp within a day I decided to go for this fish.
I'm looking to see what people's experience has been with this particular filefish and if it lives up to its reputation. Reputation being a sure thing as far as consuming aiptasia and weither or not it is reef safe; not nipping at corals or crustations etc. |
07/10/2011, 06:52 PM | #2 |
It's all about the flow
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Most of the time it will eat aptasia; it will also pick at lps and zoas. It is not a good choice for a reef tank as a permanent resident for aptasia control. Most of the posts and experiences reflect this.
Aptasia control seems best with nudibranches or shrimp. It takes time so be patient.
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07/10/2011, 07:03 PM | #3 |
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I have one that hasn't touched any coral, or aptasia for that matter...I got him because I like the fish, with aptasia being a side benefit. Mine is small, not sure if that effects his appetite for aps though. He seems to really enjoy mysis. I have other fish to feed, so not sure if he'll ever eat aps. Cool fish IMO.
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07/10/2011, 07:14 PM | #4 | |
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Quote:
I've heard of the nudibranches, but it seems like they do their job 50% of the time. As far as the shrimp go, I would like to try the peppermint shrimp again, but they will need to be of a decent size, so they can stand a chance against my cleaner shrimps. |
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07/10/2011, 07:17 PM | #5 | |
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07/10/2011, 07:19 PM | #6 |
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I placed one for a persistent majano problem in a mixed reef tank about 6 or 7 months ago. It took a couple months for him to start picking the majano, but didn't take long for him to eradicate all pest anemones. So far he hasn't picked at any coral or clam.
If you are just dealing with aiptasia, depending on your tank inhabitants and size, I'd recommend a butterflyfish, instead. Will probably be a safer bet. Don't bother with berghia. Their success rates are dismal.
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07/10/2011, 07:54 PM | #7 | |
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07/10/2011, 08:00 PM | #8 |
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So, I just got home from work and it seems that my little filefish has been up to no good! My pair of clownfish have torn fins and the larger female wasn't hanging out in it's frogspawn with the male which it normally does. Upon further investigation there is a whole that has been bitten out around her left gills. As I watched the filefish came over and take a nip! With one quick swipe of the net the filefish was caught.
What's going on here? Has anyone experienced this kind of behavior before? The filefish doesn't act aggressive at all, just sees what it wants and casually chomp. Also the entire sand bed has been tossed. I watched the filefish, prior to him comping my clown, blowing sand around and eating pods like crazy. I'm off to bag him up and return him to the store. |
07/10/2011, 08:03 PM | #9 | |
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I read all the threads about them removing aps, but so far none in my tank. My only saving grace, as stated, is that I wanted the fish anyway. Good luck. I've heard CBB do a good job with aps, but also eat coral.
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Current tank info: Biocube14, home to my orchid dottyback 65 gallon breeder, Canister used for chemical media, HOB skimmer, 75 lbs. live rock. Current Tank Info: 65 gallon breeder, biocube 14 |
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07/10/2011, 08:09 PM | #10 | |
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I am actually impressed with the way this fish changes color, almost like the way an octopus does, as it cruises about the tank. Unfortunately for now he has to be moved from my display tank due to misbehavior. Luckly my LFS is willing to hold on to him for me while things get sorted out. |
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07/10/2011, 09:28 PM | #11 |
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I am so cheap when it comes to this hobby I purchased all kinds of great live rock with awesome corals on most of it....bad part was a horrible aptasia outbreak. I took most of the rock that didn't have corals an boiled it in a huge pot.....probably a bad idea, but it was a quick start to killing off the aptasia. Then I went out and got the filefish......I also have about 5 peppermint shrimp, but I had had them in the tank for a few months and didn't see any changes in aptasia population. I didn't think my file fish was doing a damn thing till I realized that instead of 8 peices of live rock with aptasia...I only had 3....then 2....then one....and tonight it appears that all of mine is gone! I am excited enough to get on here to share the news. I have a lot zoas and haven't see any real difference in their population. If I do...the file fish will be out of there....and I will only bring him back if I need to. I love the fish...he is awesome looking, and hasn't picked on any of my other fish....as of yet. I have had several different clowns...and not a problem. Just my two cents.
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07/10/2011, 09:53 PM | #12 |
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We have had our Tomentosus Filefish for over a year in our SPS dominant, mixed reef and he has kept it Aiptasia free. He will eat zoa's, (as will our Regal) so we keep them in another tank.
We feed all of our fish multiple times a day. Our filefish also browses the rock and sand for pods and small snails and loves macro algae, algae sheets, red leaf lettuce and Romaine. We couldn't be happier with him. He is about 3 inches in length now. Here's a pic:
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07/11/2011, 06:51 AM | #13 |
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I have had one of those file fish in my 120 since Dec 2010. It took a couple of months to see any progress but my file fish cleaned out my 120 of over 1,000 aiptasia in about 4 months. He has since eaten most of my zoanthids since the aiptasia's are gone.
Other SPS, LPS, softies and a large Derasa clam have been left alone so far. He loves frozen mysis but will not eat any other commercial food for me. Joe
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Hello, my name is Joe and I am a reef addict. ......Hi Joe.......... Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef with TBS live rock, 8 X 54 watt TEK T5's, Euroreef RS250 skimmer |
07/11/2011, 11:39 AM | #14 |
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So I guess my question now is....if I take him out will the aptasia come back eventually? I don't want my zoas or any corals eaten ...... anyone had luck keeping the aptasia gone once a filefish has done its job?
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07/11/2011, 01:02 PM | #15 | |
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The filefish wasn't overly aggressive, just mellow. I'm not sure why it was literally picking at my clowns. I think my fish was a bit of a rouge, you know that one exception to the rule. |
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07/11/2011, 01:09 PM | #16 |
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07/11/2011, 01:15 PM | #17 | |
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Wow, sounds to me that you definitely got your money's worth out of that fish. For someone is the situation you described I couldn't see any other practical way to get control of that huge of an infestation. How long have your been aiptasia free? I'm curious to know if once the aiptasia are gone will the fish turn to other foods to supplement it's diet since it is only eating mysis. |
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07/11/2011, 01:17 PM | #18 | |
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07/11/2011, 03:41 PM | #19 | |
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In our experience, multiple small feedings and offering some "greens" (which we have to do anyway since we have Angels, Tangs and Wrasses) has been key in keeping our Filefish (and our Regal Angel) happy and less likely to pick at our corals. Every once in a while, I'll find an Aiptasia in the sand bed of our refugium and I'll drop it in the DT. Our Aiptasia Assasin will dart across the tank in an instant and demolish it, LOL.
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07/11/2011, 07:55 PM | #20 |
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Mine never touches aiptasia, or any of the coral for that matter. Also he looks a bit different than the one in the photo. I wonder if its the same species.[IMG][/IMG]
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07/11/2011, 08:18 PM | #21 |
SALTWATER since '73
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I have a pair that both look like this (Female is slightly diff. color), they are in 450g DT with MANY fish that are smaller, including Occ. clowns...never a problem. Eats all foods, but is always hungry for aptasia/majanos.
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07/11/2011, 08:55 PM | #22 | |
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I'm no expert, but it looks a lot like a Colurodontis paxmani.
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07/11/2011, 09:54 PM | #23 | |
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I often wonder if there are still hidden aiptasia lurking out of sight, If there is, a heavily fed tank will again become overun with aiptasia. I can live without zoanthids and will keep the file fish. Maybe I will get him a big aiptasia covered rock for Thanksgiving
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Hello, my name is Joe and I am a reef addict. ......Hi Joe.......... Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef with TBS live rock, 8 X 54 watt TEK T5's, Euroreef RS250 skimmer |
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07/12/2011, 10:38 AM | #24 |
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mine picked at many of my acans...
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07/12/2011, 03:35 PM | #25 |
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Now im curious how many people have the second fish pictured. I also thought I had tomentosus, and based on those pics I don't. Could be why mine doesn't eat aps. After reading the mixed results, and how some fish damage corals, I wonder if we've been talking about two different fish.
This fish was sold to me as tomentosus... I'm attached to it, but torn as i'm thinking it won't eat aptasia for me...
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Current tank info: Biocube14, home to my orchid dottyback 65 gallon breeder, Canister used for chemical media, HOB skimmer, 75 lbs. live rock. Current Tank Info: 65 gallon breeder, biocube 14 |
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