Fan-Bellied Filefish?

[DracoKat]

Anyone know anything about fan-bellied filefish? I got one yesterday then I realized it’s not the average aptasia eating filefish due to its unusual markings. I don’t see information about it other than it’s name and that it prefers macroalgae. No idea if it will eat aptasia? Reef-safe with caution?

A bit of research I came down to Fan-Bellied filefish (Monacanthus chinensis).

 

[i cant think]

Anyone know anything about fan-bellied filefish? I got one yesterday then I realized it’s not the average aptasia eating filefish due to its unusual markings. I don’t see information about it other than it’s name and that it prefers macroalgae. No idea if it will eat aptasia? Reef-safe with caution?

A bit of research I came down to Fan-Bellied filefish (Monacanthus chinensis).

I’ve never heard of it but that is a beautiful fish!! I’d assume it’s a RSWC fish since it’s in the filefish family but I would assume it also eats some algae since it’s found around seagrass areas.

 

[Thetankdoctor]

Wow that is awesome, sorry I don't have any info for you but just hopped on to find out.

 

[Big Smelly fish]

Nice looking fish, never heard of it

 

[Idech]

According to this it’s a hit or miss, like any filefish I suppose,

Monacanthus chinensis

Monacanthus chinensis, commonly known as the Fanbellied leatherjacket, is a medium-large filefish. It has a mottled pattern of cream-white and brown and a large skin flap shaped like a fan, on his belly to make it stand out from the other filefishes. Filefishes are usually bought because they...

shop.dejongmarinelife.nl

 

[DracoKat]

I’ve never heard of it but that is a beautiful fish!! I’d assume it’s a RSWC fish since it’s in the filefish family but I would assume it also eats some algae since it’s found around seagrass areas.

it's actually part of the trigger fish family, but not sure if filefish is triggerfish? I have no idea if they're one and the same or not.

From what I am reading, they prefer macroalgae and small shrimps. But that's all based on in the wild? I have no idea how this will do in a reef tank since there's so little information about them out there. I did find a site that's out of stock but has a price tag of $280. wow.

I am hoping someone has experience and can shed some light on this guy. Even if it doesn't eat the aptasia (Which doesn't look like it will), I am happy with this find- that is, if it behaves, lol

 

[i cant think]

it's actually part of the trigger fish family, but not sure if filefish is triggerfish? I have no idea if they're one and the same or not.

From what I am reading, they prefer macroalgae and small shrimps. But that's all based on in the wild? I have no idea how this will do in a reef tank since there's so little information about them out there. I did find a site that's out of stock but has a price tag of $280. wow.

I am hoping someone has experience and can shed some light on this guy. Even if it doesn't eat the aptasia (Which doesn't look like it will), I am happy with this find- that is, if it behaves, lol

Here’s what I found about the family and their close relatives:

“The filefish are a diverse family of tropical to subtropical tetraodontiform marine fish, which are also known as foolfish, leatherjackets or shingles. They live in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Filefish are closely related to the triggerfish, pufferfish and trunkfish”

I don’t think they eat shrimp unless they’re things like the anemone shrimp, sexy shrimp ect… (Basically ornamental shrimp that don’t hit 2” or bigger).

 

[DracoKat]

So far he seems to be behaving. He has no interest in pellets, but he's picking at the algae and mini tube worms in the tank. I'll have to get more frozen food to see if he'd eat that.

I am also boosting up in hopes someone who's had these guys can share experience

 

[DracoKat]

Checking in again just in case anyone missed this and has more insight.

This guy is awesome. he doesn't eat the aptasia at all, but he does readily eat pellets which makes me happy. Picks at rocks and algae all day long, awesome clean up guy.

I am wondering if he'd get along with an aptasia eating filefish, I still need one.

 

[i cant think]

Checking in again just in case anyone missed this and has more insight.

This guy is awesome. he doesn't eat the aptasia at all, but he does readily eat pellets which makes me happy. Picks at rocks and algae all day long, awesome clean up guy.

I am wondering if he'd get along with an aptasia eating filefish, I still need one.

That’s good news then, I would assume they can get along but I’ve never heard of people mixing filefish that aren’t the orange spotteds.

 

[DracoKat]

Updating.
The fan-bellied is doing great. he's eating pellets, and he gets along with all the fish in the tank (even aptasia filefish who perished because he wasn't eating anything, ugh).

I've noticed the fan-bellied filefish is a lot faster and more active than the typical matted/aptasia eating filefish. Has a lot more personality. he doesn't eat the aptasia, but does pick on algae.

 

[NoahLikesFish]

Anyone know anything about fan-bellied filefish? I got one yesterday then I realized it’s not the average aptasia eating filefish due to its unusual markings. I don’t see information about it other than it’s name and that it prefers macroalgae. No idea if it will eat aptasia? Reef-safe with caution?

A bit of research I came down to Fan-Bellied filefish (Monacanthus chinensis).

dde this fish is amazing where did you get it i want one

 

[DracoKat]

dde this fish is amazing where did you get it i want one

He is an amazing fish! I got him from a pet store- labeled as Aptasia Eating Filefish which I believe was miss-labeled and mis-priced.

 

[lion king]

Very nice looking fish, a real beauty, many wild caught filefish are mislabeled as aiptasia eating filefish, it's like that;s the only one they know. As a genus filefish can nip at corals, and they will eat small shrimp; even my aiptasia eating filefish is in a small predator tank, and eats live ghost shrimp. I'm not familiar with this one, as they can very greater in size as well, some getting quite large, this one is actually listed to 16" in the wild. At that size any shrimp would be on the menu. I love filefish, and you can tell their relationship to triggers by their swim style, and the cocking of their trigger. As far as getting along with other filefish, it usually comes down to sex; I don't know how to sex these, but 2 males may have issue.

 

[lion king]

Checking in again just in case anyone missed this and has more insight.

This guy is awesome. he doesn't eat the aptasia at all, but he does readily eat pellets which makes me happy. Picks at rocks and algae all day long, awesome clean up guy.

I am wondering if he'd get along with an aptasia eating filefish, I still need one.

Get a female aiptasia filefish, you can sex them, look it up I just cant remember of the top of head. That would give you a better chance for success. Are they in you 75g, thats a good size for 2 not to cause trouble.

 

[J1a]

I had one of these, wiping out my aiptasia in the tank, eats pellets and generally well behaved. After two years though, it takes a liking to my wilsoni, euphyllia, scolymia and fungia. It nipped them all the time and caused much damage. I have since removed it to the sump.

Other than not being reef safe for me, it is a very nice fish, it camouflages based on the enviroment, it can even produce blue patches when hiding near an ice-fire enchinata.

 

[DracoKat]

I recently purchased a matted file fish since I need help controlling the aptasia. So far the fan bellied and the matted are getting along well, I see no aggression at all, they ignore one another.

It's entertaining to see the difference in personality. The fanbellied is faster and is more energetic. The matted just casually strolls along, exploring and looking at everything like a typical filefish. I am seeing subtle differences aside from color/patterns that makes them stand apart.

I am not sure if the matted is female or not, I have no idea how to sex either file fish, it would be great if they could mate, but who knows.

All of my duncans in my tank closed and is dying off, I am wondering if its from the fan-bellied? I am not sure, all other corals are unharmed.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Here’s what I found about the family and their close relatives:

“The filefish are a diverse family of tropical to subtropical tetraodontiform marine fish, which are also known as foolfish, leatherjackets or shingles. They live in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Filefish are closely related to the triggerfish, pufferfish and trunkfish”

I don’t think they eat shrimp unless they’re things like the anemone shrimp, sexy shrimp ect… (Basically ornamental shrimp that don’t hit 2” or bigger).

The orange spotted ones are corallivores...are you sure it's not a corallivore too? I can't view the picture for some reason

 

[lion king]

I recently purchased a matted file fish since I need help controlling the aptasia. So far the fan bellied and the matted are getting along well, I see no aggression at all, they ignore one another.

It's entertaining to see the difference in personality. The fanbellied is faster and is more energetic. The matted just casually strolls along, exploring and looking at everything like a typical filefish. I am seeing subtle differences aside from color/patterns that makes them stand apart.

I am not sure if the matted is female or not, I have no idea how to sex either file fish, it would be great if they could mate, but who knows.

All of my duncans in my tank closed and is dying off, I am wondering if its from the fan-bellied? I am not sure, all other corals are unharmed.

All filefish may have a tendency to nip corals. The duncan would definitely close up if being bothered

If mature enough the male will have prominent bristles on the caudal peduncle, the area between the body and the tail.

 

[dazza_hk]

I just had to look this fish up, I caught one with a fishing rod here in HK by the Harbour