File fish

Bthomas · Mar 7, 2019

Anyone have experience with these guys in a reef? I have an aiptasia problem that I have been unable to take care of with aiptasia x. Thinking about trying one of these guys.
I see that it says they are a shy fish and I have a couple tangs, a foxface, clowns and hopefully a group of anthias if they make it through quarantine in my tank. Wondering if a file fish would fare ok with that crowd.

James M · Mar 7, 2019

Use a acclimation box !!!
They're also are a 50/50 on coral

4FordFamily · Mar 7, 2019

James M said:
Use a acclimation box !!!
They're also are a 50/50 on coral

I agree. Some won't eat majano nor aiptasia but in my experience 1/2 or so of them do. Another 1/2 or so eventually move on to other coral.

The good news is they're relatively easy to remove, being slow and tending to hang up near the power heads or in the top of the tank in the back.

Bthomas · Mar 7, 2019

4FordFamily said:
I agree. Some won't eat majano nor aiptasia but in my experience 1/2 or so of them do. Another 1/2 or so eventually move on to other coral.

The good news is they're relatively easy to remove, being slow and tending to hang up near the power heads or in the top of the tank in the back.

Do you think an Ora captive bred would be more likely to eat aiptasia?

Bthomas · Mar 7, 2019

Also how would I go about quarantining them? If I get it eating frozen or other foods is that going to put it off wanting to eat aiptasia? Any problems treating them with copper or other meds?

Mical · Mar 7, 2019

I have 4 of them, 2 in each of 2 tanks and they are awesome. They are ORA bred from Live Aquaria. At first they didn't seem interested in aiptasia but in one tank it took 2 weeks for aiptasia to vanish. The other tank took 10 days. They eat at night so that's why I didn't witness them eating. But they ate every one - large & small. They haven't bothered a single coral in each tank and they are model citizens. I went through AiptasiaX, majano wand, kalk paste and even a laser the file fish are the ticket. IMO. They'll eat anything you feed them from mysis to pellets and I never quarantined them.

4FordFamily · Mar 7, 2019

I've not used the captive bred but based on the above I'd say that's a heck of a review!

I will say I wouldn't ever neglect to quarantine anything. My fish in my DT are too valuable to play Russian roulette IMO

WVNed · Mar 7, 2019

I am on my second one. Neither would eat aiptasia but they are a nice fish.

DarthSimon · Mar 7, 2019

My LongNose Butterfly does a decent job at eating the apstasia... Is that an option??

Mical · Mar 7, 2019

4FordFamily said:
I've not used the captive bred but based on the above I'd say that's a heck of a review!

I will say I wouldn't ever neglect to quarantine anything. My fish in my DT are too valuable to play Russian roulette IMO

I usually quarantine all fish but after talking to ORA folks they pretty much assured me they were tank raised, healthy and disease free. The quote "we refuse to ship ANY fish that is questionable"

Kudos · Mar 7, 2019

In my opinion be careful. I'd try shrimp first. My file fish are all my Aptasia and then went on to eat zoas as well. Don't get me wrong I like them but I would try shrimp first.

Bthomas · Mar 7, 2019

Kudos said:
In my opinion be careful. I'd try shrimp first. My file fish are all my Aptasia and then went on to eat zoas as well. Don't get me wrong I like them but I would try shrimp first.

I have tried shrimp. I have 2 peppermints in there that arnt touching them

Bthomas · Mar 7, 2019

4FordFamily said:
I've not used the captive bred but based on the above I'd say that's a heck of a review!

I will say I wouldn't ever neglect to quarantine anything. My fish in my DT are too valuable to play Russian roulette IMO

I do plan on quarantining. Just wasn't sure how they handled meds and things

CindyKz · Mar 7, 2019

I have one in a softy tank. No complaints and no aiptasia

ReefHog · Mar 8, 2019

I’ve had my file fish for about two years. He’s one of 3 fish out of 12 to survive a terrible velvet outbreak last weekend. He eats everything I put in the tank. Even nori on the clip. He keeps my 220 free of Aiptasia for sure. In fact I’ve taken rocks from the sump with them on there and in two days they are gone. Can’t say every file fish will eat them but mine does.

kennytze · Mar 9, 2019

I have a filefish in my 180 gal that wiped out a large infestation in about a month. He is still in tank a year and a half now and is a model citizen.There are nine clownfish, a Black and Sailfin tang with him and no problems with these fish. I highly recommend for Aiptasia control.

Erica-Renee · Mar 9, 2019

We have a File fish and a CBB in our tank. not only does the file fish eat aiptasia it has also lowered my Bristle worms and brittle star fish population. We have several large tangs a Hawaiian hawk fish and several others. The file fish does its own thing NOBODY Bothers it nor does it bother anyone else. Its one of my Fav fish . Of the morning just as the lights come on and as they start to go out of the evening the file fish comes out picking pods off the glass . Everyone should have one with or without a aiptasia issue . Kinda like a yellow tank and Clown fish pair...

Bthomas · Mar 9, 2019

Thanks everyone, I'm definitely gonna try one.
Does anyone know if they can be quarantined with a Midas blenny in a 20 gallon tank? I don't like to quarantine just one fish at a time and the blenny was next on my stock list