Orange Spotted Filefish (Oxymonacanthus Longirostis) showoff

[Rtaylor]

I currently have 4 orange spotted filefish. I’ve had 3 males for about 9 months and 1 female for about 4 months. Adding the single female has made my males a bit aggressive. I’m receiving 3 females tomorrow that I’m hoping will arrive healthy and maybe calm down the boys a bit. I’d love to hear anyone else’s experiences keeping groups of these fish. I haven’t been able to find much information and I hope adding a group of ladies doesn’t make the boys even crazier
Show me your OSFF!

 

[KrisReef]

I saw one in the fish store last week and I was wondering what you feed them? Your group is beautiful!

 

[Rtaylor]

I saw one in the fish store last week and I was wondering what you feed them? Your group is beautiful!

Thanks! All 4 of mine started eating Masstick the day they arrived (ordered online & shipped overnight). I then added Panta Rhei Polyp & Panta Rhea Sponge pellets, which are specifically designed for corilavores and spongivores. It didn’t take them long to start eating anything I feed the tank. They love frozen mysis, brine, fish eggs, pretty much anything they can fit in their tiny little mouths. I still give them Masstick once a day as I like that they can graze on it over the morning.

 

[KrisReef]

Thanks for that detailed reply. I don't think I'm up to keeping one of these but they do look tempting and now I see it can be done!

 

[Rtaylor]

Thanks for that detailed reply. I don't think I'm up to keeping one of these but they do look tempting and now I see it can be done!

I don’t know if I just got lucky, but these guys have been super easy for me. I hope I have the same luck with the 3 I am expecting tomorrow.

 

[Largeangels]

Nice. I had a pair a few years ago that instantly took to Omega flakes. They lived about 2.5 years if I recall correctly.

I've got one female right now who prefers baby brine shrimp, but not yet interested in Masstick.

I think a lot of it, and with other "sensitive" fish, has to do with quality of collection and how long they go without food from collection to our aquarium.

 

[Rtaylor]

Yeah, unfortunately one of the 3 I received today was doa

 

[Paul B]

Absolutely fantastic. I love it.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I currently have 4 orange spotted filefish. I’ve had 3 males for about 9 months and 1 female for about 4 months. Adding the single female has made my males a bit aggressive. I’m receiving 3 females tomorrow that I’m hoping will arrive healthy and maybe calm down the boys a bit. I’d love to hear anyone else’s experiences keeping groups of these fish. I haven’t been able to find much information and I hope adding a group of ladies doesn’t make the boys even crazier
Show me your OSFF!

Beautiful looks like a file fish crossed with a wrasse. Never seen one of these till now thanks

 

[Rtaylor]

I received the 3 females today. Sadly, one was doa. I’m cautiously optimistic on the other 2 as they are already eating Masstick. They are both thin, one more so than the other. I put my most aggressive male and the existing female in a breeder box as they were chasing quite a bit . I’ll release them tomorrow if the new ladies are still doing well.

 

[Ro Bow]

d

I currently have 4 orange spotted filefish. I’ve had 3 males for about 9 months and 1 female for about 4 months. Adding the single female has made my males a bit aggressive. I’m receiving 3 females tomorrow that I’m hoping will arrive healthy and maybe calm down the boys a bit. I’d love to hear anyone else’s experiences keeping groups of these fish. I haven’t been able to find much information and I hope adding a group of ladies doesn’t make the boys even crazier
Show me your OSFF!

do they eat coral?

 

[Rtaylor]

d

do they eat coral?

No, they peck at SPS a bit, but there natural diet is the mucus from polyps not the coral. Mine eat Masstick, pellets, frozen, pretty much anything.

 

[Rtaylor]

As expected their is some aggression. Hopefully they are just working out the pecking order and will settle down soon. Ok, I don’t know how to get an attached video to work so I removed it.

 

[dennis romano]

Where did you buy them?

 

[Rtaylor]

Where did you buy them?

Reefbeauties.com

 

[jx fang]

Here is my little guy.
He has been in the tank over 2 years.
Eat everything that fits his mouth.
Last year I got him a buddy.
They stayed together over a year.
But I literally killed his buddy, by forgot to put back the pump grills, he got sucked in and died a few days later, sad.
Even they don't get along daytime, they usually sleep together at night.

Also notice his dorsal fin is a lot shorter than usual.
Last year he got velvet, and part of the dorsal fin turns white, then felt off, never grows back again.
His signature fin.

 

[Rtaylor]

Beautiful fish! Thanks for sharing

 

[Rtaylor]

Update: I now have 6 healthy orange spotted filefish eating frozen, pellets, and Masstick. The 2 newest additions have been in the tank about 5 weeks. There was quite a bit of chasing for the first 3-4 weeks. I’ve noticed that they have settled down the frequency and duration of chasing in the last week or two. They seem to have paired off as well.

 

[Haydn]

Smashing group they look great together.

Are they tank bred/raised or wild caught.

 

[Paul B]

Your a better fish keeper than me as I never had much success keeping what I think are the most beautiful fish in the hobby.