Aptasia eating filefish in a reef tank.

[ripped tide]

I am aware that every now and then one of these guys can get coral hungry. I'd like to hear your experiences. Thanks!

Edit: Crap, can a mod edit the title? I meant to say "filefish"

 

[miami dolfan]

I have a green filefish with a red tail that isn't bothering any zoas, zenia or frogspawn in my tank.

 

[ripped tide]

Thanks for your response, the particular fish I am referring to is also known as a comb tail filefish

 

[bcrueter]

i have seen a file eat clams.

 

[hud3339]

bcrueter;721565 wrote: i have seen a file eat clams.

+1

 

[ripped tide]

bcrueter;721565 wrote: i have seen a file eat clams.

That solves that. I have an aptasia eating file that I have been loaning out, but he has finished his last job and I don't have any new jobs scheduled for him. I usually use him as the first fish in my maintenance customer's tanks(if the rock has ANY aptasia) and remove him before corals are added.

He doesn't have any immediate jobs lined up, so I was thinking about adding him to my reef tank, but I have 4 clams that I value very much. I guess he goes to the 210 until his next scheduled appointment. If anyone wants him, I would consider trading for ricordeas or other unique mushrooms.

 

[dawgface]

I am aware that every now and then one of these guys can get coral hungry. I'd like to hear your experiences. Thanks!

Edit: Crap, can a mod edit the title? I meant to say "filefish"[/QUOTE]


Done

 

[itsamyheff]

I had one in my reef and it found a liking to the acans. Over night he took out about 13 heads that where on 5 different acans. He went up for sale the next day.

 

[ripped tide]

I'm trading him to Robb. I DO have a few aptasias in my reef, but I'll probably stick to peppermint shrimp. They have done well for me in the past.

 

[lilrobb]

I think in my pure SPS reef he will do just fine, haha

 

[lilrobb]

BigJohn;721711 wrote: Aren't SPS the ones that usually go first?

Define "go"...

 

[KrisDeitz]

Robbs Sps Grows to fast.

 

[lilrobb]

BigJohn;721741 wrote: Being eaten/picked at by fish

Not as far as I know,
Usually meaty LPS go first, very few fish like the stony tiny polyps of SPS

 

[jmaneyapanda]

bcrueter;721565 wrote: i have seen a file eat clams.

If were talking about Acreichthys tomentosus</em>, I find this very difficult to believe. I had a pair of this species in with 8 clams of all sizes, and they never once looked at them.

BigJohn;721661 wrote: Do they eat the big aptasia too?

Yep. Obliterate them.

itsamyheff;721697 wrote: I had one in my reef and it found a liking to the acans. Over night he took out about 13 heads that where on 5 different acans. He went up for sale the next day.

YES. This seems to be their favorite.

LilRobb;721743 wrote: Not as far as I know,
Usually meaty LPS go first, very few fish like the stony tiny polyps of SPS

Extremely unlikely to bother SPS.

My pair picked at zoanthids and acans, and thats it. I think people are knee jerk responding that filefish with eat clams/coals, etc. There are a LOT of different filefish, and they eat different things. If we are talking about Acreichthys tomentosus</em>, the overall consensus from most keepers, myself included, is that zoanthids and acans are at risk for sure.

 

[hud3339]

I sat and watched the filefish tear apart the clam, so I know for a fact that they can and will eat a clam. This particular one was green/grey and the size of a small plate

 

[jmaneyapanda]

hud3339;721773 wrote: I sat and watched the filefish tear apart the clam, so I know for a fact that they can and will eat a clam. This particular one was green/grey and the size of a small plate

Then it was not a Acreichthys tomentosus</em>. They do not get that big. Thats my point. There are a lot of different filefish that eat a lot of different things.

 

[frankenbakon]

somewhat off topic.. I have an aiptasia problem how much are these "jobs" you loan it out for??

Edit: nvm just saw you were trading to robb... should prolly read the whole thing b4 responding

 

[ripped tide]

FrankenBakon;721802 wrote: somewhat off topic.. I have an aiptasia problem how much are these "jobs" you loan it out for??

Edit: nvm just saw you were trading to robb... should prolly read the whole thing b4 responding

Most fish stores sell them for about $30. If you want one, pm me and I'll point you in the right direction

 

[frankenbakon]

I don't want one long term just wanted 1 for a short period of time to wipe out the 100+ aiptasia in my cube

 

[atcaw94]

FrankenBakon;721810 wrote: I don't want one long term just wanted 1 for a short period of time to wipe out the 100+ aiptasia in my cube

Did you ever get one? I have a friggin aptasia farm in my tank and can't buy enough Joe's Juice to kill all of them. Besides, a lot of them are in places where I can't get to them.