Filefish and Aiptasia

[Bthomas]

I just added a small filefish to my tank to hopefully take care of a huge aiptasia problem. What I'm wondering is can a small filefish (maybe an inch) eat large aiptasia? Will he be physically able to or can it only eat small ones?
He's been in the tank a week so far and hasn't touched any of them yet but most of them are quite large.

 

[Troy Thomas]

I struggled with Aiptasia so I purchased a file fish around the same size. I was told give the file fish 2 weeks to start going after Aiptasia. Well that happened exactly as said, that litter bugger wiped out Aiptasia big and small. I never noticed him messing with my coral but for awhile some funky stuff was happening to my euphyllias and zoas

 

[Bthomas]

I struggled with Aiptasia so I purchased a file fish around the same size. I was told give the file fish 2 weeks to start going after Aiptasia. Well that happened exactly as said, that litter bugger wiped out Aiptasia big and small. I never noticed him messing with my coral but for awhile some funky stuff was happening to my euphyllias and zoas

That's good to hear. Did yours also eat frozen food with the rest of the fish? Mine does and I'm worried he's going to just eat that and not go after aiptasia

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Filefish are cool. Let us know how it goes. I’m thinking of getting one


And #WelcometoR2R @Troy Thomas

 

[Mikedawg]

That's good to hear. Did yours also eat frozen food with the rest of the fish? Mine does and I'm worried he's going to just eat that and not go after aiptasia

Wouldn't worry, his instinct to eat aiptasia is pretty strong.

 

[vetteguy53081]

A small may not go after the large ones. Additionally, leather files are hit and miss, meaning they MAY go after aptasia while others will go after coral. Keep fingers crossed.
On the large ones, take a syringe and mix Kalk powder into a paste like liquid and inject into cores of aptasia and watch them melt

 

[homer1475]

My filefish ignores the aptasia(even the tiny ones!). Cool fish, but I would not guarantee they will eat any aptasia.

@Frank's Tanks "F" aptasia killed them for me.

 

[Bthomas]

A small may not go after the large ones. Additionally, leather files are hit and miss, meaning they MAY go after aptasia while others will go after coral. Keep fingers crossed.
On the large ones, take a syringe and mix Kalk powder into a paste like liquid and inject into cores of aptasia and watch them melt

I was using aiptasia x which was working to get rid of the large ones but they just seemed to spread when I would kill one..
If he does start eating them tho that could be an option to get rid of one's he wont eat

 

[Frank's Tanks]

I understand the apprehension because you’ve used other products. Try and trust me on this!

https://saltwateraquariumstore.franks-tanks.com/F-Aiptasia-Killer-p126353177

 

[1stNoel]

Copperbands work wonders on Aiptasia. They're reef safe with caution, but I've never known them to eat any coral besides clams.

Filefish will eat aiptasia, but the one I had also ate my zoas (my LFS claims they also eat SPS polyps). Good thing is they're slow movers so they're easy to catch if you need to re-home them.

None of these fish will attack larger aiptasia; you'll need to kill those yourself using your preference of off-the-shelf eradicators. The fish will take care of the rest.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Copperbands work wonders on Aiptasia. They're reef safe with caution, but I've never known them to eat any coral besides clams.

Filefish will eat aiptasia, but the one I had also ate my zoas (my LFS claims they also eat SPS polyps). Good thing is they're slow movers so they're easy to catch if you need to re-home them.

None of these fish will attack larger aiptasia; you'll need to kill those yourself using your preference of off-the-shelf eradicators. The fish will take care of the rest.

Same applies with peppermint shrimp. My best luck has been copperband butterfly, BUT, no guarantee there either.