Aiptasia Eating Filefish Leatherjacket - (Acreichthys tomentosus)

Care Level - Difficult

Temperament- Peaceful

Reef Safe - Yes

Max Size - 4"

Min. Tank Size - 20 gallon

The  Aiptasia Eating Filefish is a fascinating and functional fish that provides a fantastic aquarium maintenance service. As its common name implies, Acreichthys tomentosus has an appetite for nuisance Aiptasia or glass anemones. The Captive-Bred Aiptasia Eating Filefish boasts ornate mottled markings that allow it to blend seamlessly in its natural habitat among the shallow seagrass beds. The Captive-Bred Aiptasia Eating Filefish is also able to effortlessly change color and patterning to camouflage or conceal itself from predators. In the wild Radial Filefish are distributed across the Indo-West Pacific Ocean from East Africa to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu Islands, and south to Australia.

Aiptasia Eating Filefish should be housed in a well-established 30 gallon or larger aquarium with live rock, live sand, and plenty of hiding places. The Aiptasia Eating Filefish is a cautious and shy fish that rarely demonstrates aggression towards other fish except those of its own genus. Be sure to house the  Aiptasia Eating Filefish with fish of similar peaceful temperament and avoid keeping with more aggressive fish. The  Aiptasia Eating Filefish can be successfully kept in a reef aquarium with caution knowing that it may occasionally nip at soft and stony corals. The males are easily distinguished from females as male Aiptasia Eating Filefish demonstrate a cluster of bushy bristles/spines at the base of the peduncle.

Aiptasia Eating Filefish is not a specialized feeder, meaning its diet is not exclusive to Aiptasia Glass Anemones. In fact, some Aiptasia Eating Filefish may take some time before it develops a taste for Aiptasia. The diet of the Aiptasia Eating Filefish should consist of a variety of meaty foods and vegetable matter including shaved shrimp, squid, scallop, mysis shrimp, freeze-dried krill soaked in a vitamin supplement, and frozen marine algae. Aiptasia Eating Filefish should be fed small quantities of food several times per day.