Cthulukelele
2500 Club Member
Thanks! I knew they were more known for it but wasn't sure if all filefish partook in the little stingy buggers
My new ORA Radial Filefish
- Thread starter alex.mccann99
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User1
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Correct - matted filefish (URL: https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+30+2562&pcatid=2562) otherwise known as Acreichthys tomentosus. This little guy took out my Aptasia population within 2 months. It wasn't super fast but it made short work of it all things considered. Very interesting fish that many warned me once it cleared out Aptasia that it would starve if I didn't move it to another tank with it. They may or may not take to other food. Mine did - ate pellet, mysis, and brine shrimp. Nori also oddly enough. Peaceful fish. Changes color / camouflage to surroundings. Slow mover. Handled my 40 breeder well. Pair of RW4's and later upgraded to RW8's on a controller (reef angel) with random tide flows and nutrient export.
Did eat some zoas I had. Picked at my LPS (Hammer corals). Didn't do any long term damage to the hammers but then again they grew faster since I had 4 groups of them. Left Kenya tree alone and rose bubble tip anemones. I owned it for about 2 years. Very healthy. One day I introduced a Xenia frag about the size of a quarter. It went right to it. If it was playing Monopoly it passed Go, collected $200 dollars, and ate it for breakfast while tossing the frag plug out the window saying Peace B$#@!es. After that, and since I wanted the Xenia to take hold I caught it and returned it to the store. Great fish though - if it would have left the Xenia a lot for a bit I would probably still have it.
TexasReefer82
Active Member
Just looking for a clarification... in this post are you referring to the Radial Filefish or the tomentosus that ate zoas and Xenia?
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User1
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Not a problem. I ordered from Pacific East Aquaculture and he has both at times. However, I'm pretty sure it was the Matted / Acreichthys tomentosus. It is captive bred/raised also - in fact that is all he carries with regards to fish.
The Radial is Acreichthys radiatus. They look similar which makes it more confusing but is known to eat corals. Interesting enough I am seeing mine eat and/or pick at Xenia. It has left alone my:
RBTA
Ricordia mushrooms
Stylophora
Fuzzy Lobo
Leather toadstools (standard and weeping willow)
and more importantly Cespitularia - which is just starting to take off
I may have a few other frags but I will say it has, and continues to, wipe out all a forms, regardless of size, of Aiptasia. I see it in my sump and overflow so know spoors are making it back into the display. It doesn't matter too much since it does find them regardless of location.
I can try and grab a picture of it if it helps. Came in the size of a dime if not smaller. Kept going overflow and ended up in sump. Put it in a 5 gallon for a month or so then moved to display. Seems to be growing faster in there.
TexasReefer82
Active Member
Very interesting. I knew that the tomentosus/matted filefish was reef safe with caution because it occasionally nips at LPS corals. But I'm surprised to learn that the Radial filefish also nips at and eats corals - especially Xenia since they live in some type of symbiosis with it.
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User1
Guest
Let me grab a picture and also see if I can find the order slip. My Xenia is pretty well established so I don't believe it is going to remove it. What I find interesting in my tank is that I'll find little Xenia frags or stalks floating about and if I don't remove them they will float, then attach, and spread. So I see a few and about a week later they are gone. The only thing I believe that acts interested is the filefish. I also have a coral beauty though but I've not seen it pick.
I'd say I'm about 90% positive it is my filefish - but I very well could be wrong
Lindaanne60
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How are your radial filefish doing? I have one thinking of adding a second.
SauceyReef
Valuable Member
Any updates?
