Suggestions required: Matted file fish

101010 · 10/27/2018, 02:50 AM

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 · 10/27/2018, 08:15 AM

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 · 10/27/2018, 09:45 AM

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 · 10/27/2018, 10:36 AM

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 · 10/28/2018, 01:57 PM

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 · 10/28/2018, 06:37 PM

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

Fourstars · 10/29/2018, 11:16 AM

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 · 10/29/2018, 06:34 PM

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

10/27/2018, 02:50 AM	#1
101010 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 86	Suggestions required: Matted file fish 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 Sent from my ASUS_X00TD using Tapatalk

10/27/2018, 08:15 AM	#2
phenom5 Unregistered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,096	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. __________________ Rob Current Tank Info: DSA 155 Pro \| ATI Sunpower \| ATB 840 v2 \| Apex \| Wav

10/27/2018, 09:45 AM	#3
Grayhead Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 581	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 __________________ 240 Gallon mixed reef, Apex Controlled Radion gen4 pro/T-5 hybrid combo, TBS Liverock Lifereef sump, skimmer, and Fuge 2- MP 40, 1- Vectra M1 return pump, Build thread below http:

10/27/2018, 10:36 AM	#4
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	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. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

10/28/2018, 01:57 PM	#5
rjjr1963 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Nebraska/Missouri Posts: 770	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. __________________ 72x24x16 115 gallon under construction Current Tank Info: 40 gallon reef

10/28/2018, 06:37 PM	#6
ghostman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Spring Hill, Florida Posts: 1,629	I had a matted filefish in the past, with no issues. Ate all my aiptasia and never touched a zoa or other coral. __________________ When you die, you don't know you're dead. It's only difficult for the people around you. It's the same when you're stupid. Current Tank Info: 40IM Fusion, 40lbs of rock, and 20lbs of sand. Just a few fish and corals....for now.

10/29/2018, 11:16 AM	#7
Fourstars Registered Member. Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Third rock Posts: 291	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.

10/29/2018, 06:34 PM	#8
Aslmx Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Cullman,alabama Posts: 329	Good info. I’m looking to get one also. I’d love to have a CBB but afraid it won’t make it