Small filefish question

[PrimaryQwilfish]

I am considering some of the smaller ORA captive bred filefishes for my 32 gallon biocube and wanted to know what other peoples experience has been with them - are they bad about nipping soft coral? I wanna have a tank with xenia, GSP, gorgonians and maybe a hammer coral, but I am also a big fan of filefishes. My other fish would include a flame hawkfish, randalls goby, and much later a springer dottyback and valentini puffer. Im still waiting on cycle to end so I may cut one of those cause I domt want to overstock

 

[James M]

There 50/50 with coral. Either they will nip/eat them or they won’t

 

[mort]

My experience is with the tomentosa files which seem to be safer as juveniles before beginning to try corals later on. This could represent a natural change of diet as they age but it's very much fish dependent. I'm also unsure if being aquacultured, where sometimes fish that eat coral can be safer as they have not naturally grown up with corals as part of their diet, helps or whether their natural diet change is effected. They are naturally found in seagrass beds where corals aren't really common and this is the same for the pygmy filefish that they breed, so I'd expect a similar risk with them.
Ime xenia and duncans are the first thing they go for which isnt always a bad thing as xenia is very fast growing and you may get to the point where you pray to be rid of it (I love it). Either way I would say it's a flip of the coin but one I'd take as they are great fish and normally very easy to catch.

 

[Krzydmnd]

I have a pygmy filefish for over a year now and he is a model citizen. Highly underrated fish imo. He's very entertaining! Mine has never bothered any coral.

 

[eatbreakfast]

^agree completely.

I would also be wary of a springeri dottyback in a 32g tank.

 

[Captain Quint]

I had one that took a huge chunk of a G.S. Maroon once. Took it and donated to LFS.

 

[lotekfish]

I've been interested in the ORA filefish too. I have a 20g with gorgonians and a clownfish. I can't seem to get a good grasp on how big they get and how reef safe they are. I've read they can nip at polyps but I always thought that meant SPS. Sounds like they might go after softies as well.

 

[PrimaryQwilfish]

My experience is with the tomentosa files which seem to be safer as juveniles before beginning to try corals later on. This could represent a natural change of diet as they age but it's very much fish dependent. I'm also unsure if being aquacultured, where sometimes fish that eat coral can be safer as they have not naturally grown up with corals as part of their diet, helps or whether their natural diet change is effected. They are naturally found in seagrass beds where corals aren't really common and this is the same for the pygmy filefish that they breed, so I'd expect a similar risk with them.
Ime xenia and duncans are the first thing they go for which isnt always a bad thing as xenia is very fast growing and you may get to the point where you pray to be rid of it (I love it). Either way I would say it's a flip of the coin but one I'd take as they are great fish and normally very easy to catch.

These are all good points to think about - thank you!

 

[PrimaryQwilfish]

I have a pygmy filefish for over a year now and he is a model citizen. Highly underrated fish imo. He's very entertaining! Mine has never bothered any coral.

Awesome! Good to hear happy stories too! Share some photos if you have time, I'd love to see it

 

[PrimaryQwilfish]

^agree completely.

I would also be wary of a springeri dottyback in a 32g tank.

Yeah, I know they can be very territorial, thats why I planned to add it last.

 

[PrimaryQwilfish]

I've been interested in the ORA filefish too. I have a 20g with gorgonians and a clownfish. I can't seem to get a good grasp on how big they get and how reef safe they are. I've read they can nip at polyps but I always thought that meant SPS. Sounds like they might go after softies as well.

The ones on Liveaquaria (however reliable they may or may not be) all say around 3 inches, but they also recommend a 30 gallon tank size so idk.

 

[PrimaryQwilfish]

I had one that took a huge chunk of a G.S. Maroon once. Took it and donated to LFS.

I mean I guess I could do that too.

 

[mort]

I've been interested in the ORA filefish too. I have a 20g with gorgonians and a clownfish. I can't seem to get a good grasp on how big they get and how reef safe they are. I've read they can nip at polyps but I always thought that meant SPS. Sounds like they might go after softies as well.

My experience has been good with filefish and gorgs. The only damage that occurred was in one spot the the file used to bite onto for the night. It literally locked it's jaws and slept there.
Fleshy polyps seem more a temptation than sps. I know a couple of people that had to take out their acans, trachys and similar stuff but their sps wasn't on the menu. I've seen them eat Duncan and some love xenia but I wouldn't be overly worried by softies apart from zoas.

 

[Oldreefer44]

In my experience they are somewhat of a gamble some are fine some are not.. Also think that your proposed bio-load is even riskier.

 

[PrimaryQwilfish]

My experience has been good with filefish and gorgs. The only damage that occurred was in one spot the the file used to bite onto for the night. It literally locked it's jaws and slept there.
Fleshy polyps seem more a temptation than sps. I know a couple of people that had to take out their acans, trachys and similar stuff but their sps wasn't on the menu. I've seen them eat Duncan and some love xenia but I wouldn't be overly worried by softies apart from zoas.

This may be a dumb question but why wouldmt you be too worried about softies? This is my first venture into coral care, so I know they are tough but they still seem touchy. Also do you think leathers would be ok?

 

[PrimaryQwilfish]

In my experience they are somewhat of a gamble some are fine some are not.. Also think that your proposed bio-load is even riskier.

Yeah I was already suspicious of that and will likely be reducing to 3 or 4 of my choices.

 

[Krzydmnd]

Awesome! Good to hear happy stories too! Share some photos if you have time, I'd love to see it

I call him Derp. He's so laid back, no one bothers him and he bothers no one.

Eats everything I put in the tank including nori and has never touched a single coral.

 

[PrimaryQwilfish]

I call him Derp. He's so laid back, no one bothers him and he bothers no one.

Eats everything I put in the tank including nori and has never touched a single coral.

Oh my gosh so pretty! I love derp, 11/10! Now I am even more tempted to try one! What species is he?

 

[Krzydmnd]

Oh my gosh so pretty! I love derp, 11/10! Now I am even more tempted to try one! What species is he?

Rudarius erodes. White spotted pygmy filefish

 

[PrimaryQwilfish]

Rudarius erodes. White spotted pygmy filefish

That's what I thought! Thats the species Ive been looking at potentially getting. How often do you typically feed if I may ask, and what? Im trying to plan as much as I can, my cycle is getting close to completion!