Orange Spotted Filefish
- Thread starter Oscaror
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Nope, I promise you that the OSF would eat the SPS a lot faster than they can grow. I have researched they heavily because I would love to have them and from everything I have seen, it would not work out for you.
Daniel@R2R
Living the Reef Life
Renton777 you got any tips on this? I know you have a pair in your 200g which has a lot of SPS. How have you done this successfully?
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
I have seen them in SPS dominant tanks, and instead of picking relentlessly on one coral then moving to the next, they were all over the tankpicking at a polyp here and there, but no noticeable damage was done. The colonies were all very mature though.
I think that would be the difference between success and failure, if all you had were a bunch of SPS frags, they would probably run out of food pretty quickly but if you had large mature colonies, you would be fine.
The real trick is getting them to eat prepared foods, regardless of how much sps you have. I have had a male since 10/13/2012 and a female since 5/30/2013. They are both doing very well and have great body mass. The male is from Divers Den and the female is from a local fish store. Mine eat the tiny Sustainable Aquatics pellets, spinrila enriched brine, mysis and will pick at nori.
My suggestion would be to buy them from Divers Den, let them do the tough process of getting them to eat.
I do have a lot of sps and they pick at the polyps and I do not get any sps polyp extension during the day while the fish are awake.
They have never killed my sps, nor do I think they have had much effect on growth or color. I get pretty good out of both.
Here is a link to my tank thread with more info about my experience with them. https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/large-aquariums-180g/101447-rentons-custom-200-a.html (I need to take some updated pictures, my sps has really grown out of control)
My suggestion would be to buy them from Divers Den, let them do the tough process of getting them to eat.
I do have a lot of sps and they pick at the polyps and I do not get any sps polyp extension during the day while the fish are awake.
They have never killed my sps, nor do I think they have had much effect on growth or color. I get pretty good out of both.
Here is a link to my tank thread with more info about my experience with them. https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/large-aquariums-180g/101447-rentons-custom-200-a.html (I need to take some updated pictures, my sps has really grown out of control)
OP
OP
Oscaror
Back In It
That's my point, I know they would decimate frags (I'd need a separate growout tank) but large colonies, I've seen videos of them in SPS tanks, and just wondered if a 180 is enough.
Them running out of food isn't as much the issue as the SPS runnign out of polyps, this is why I won't have one in my 46 gallon, even if my sps frags eventually grow out.
I can't buy from divers den, but I have a couple of great LFS's taht would at least make sure they're healthy. I'm sure an SPS dominant 180g could sustain them until they start eating (or would they just not care about the food?)
Awesome!a favorite picture of one of mine:
zibba
Valuable Member
An incredibly gorgeous fish. If the 180 is fully mature (5+ years of growth), I could see it working out. A friend of mine with a fully mature 900g recently got a pair and they definitely pick at EVERY sps but the growth hasn't slowed much. He has lost nearly all polyp extension (at least during the daytime).
Here's a pic I snapped of one of his fish...just to tempt you a bit more
DSC_9954 by ..:.. EZ ..:.., on Flickr
Here's a pic I snapped of one of his fish...just to tempt you a bit more
DSC_9954 by ..:.. EZ ..:.., on Flickr
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OP
OP
Oscaror
Back In It
some day I'll have that 180 longAn incredibly gorgeous fish. If the 180 is fully mature (5+ years of growth), I could see it working out. A friend of mine with a fully mature 900g recently got a pair and they definitely pick at EVERY sps but the growth hasn't slowed much. He has lost nearly all polyp extension (at least during the daytime).
Here's a pic I snapped of one of his fish...just to tempt you a bit more
DSC_9954 by ..:.. EZ ..:.., on Flickr
Well keep in mind these are difficult and finicky fish, at least to start with. They are hard to get established. I would not assume anything with them. If you get a pair be ready to get some pocillopora and millies, they seem to like them the best.
OP
OP
Oscaror
Back In It
Well I just wanted to ask this for future reference (An upgrade isn't coming along any time soon, but when it happens, it won't be anything but a 180 long
ReefFrenzy
Shrimp Pimp
Chad Vossen from Vossen Aquatics in MN frequently offers pairs for sale which have been conditioned to eat pellets as well as frozen foods, including LRS Reef Frenzy. He is frequently posting videos and pics of the specimens he has ready to ship. Chad has promised a pair for me but we have been too busy to make good on his offer. He is worth contacting if you have questions about this species.
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ReefFrenzy
Shrimp Pimp
Oh wow! Totally put my foot in my mouth. So sorry for missing that you are from CA. With that being said Chad may be a great resource for you to seek out if you had any questions or needed advice to help acclimate the OSFF. He is very knowledgable and helpful.
OP
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Oscaror
Back In It
No probs lol, well thanks for the info
