Just picked up an orange spotted filefish

seanothon · 08/21/2010, 09:17 AM

I know what you are going to say... BUT it was already eating at the store. It munches down on frozen brine shrimp. It looks great. Not skinny, beautiful color. I am just wondering if anyone has any advice as to where to go from here. It is my first and only fish in my new show 55 sump and seems to be doing fine. Do you think I need to supplement the food? Soak it in vitamins, etc?

AquaReeferMan · 08/21/2010, 09:21 AM

If you are talking about Oxymonacanthus longirostris it will perish if they do not get a steady diet of coral polyps. Brine shrimp holds little to no nutritional values. These fish feed strictly on the polyps of small polyp stony corals. This is definitely a fish that should be left in the ocean. Ive seen only a few people keep these alive in closed systems. Theyve always been in pairs and have always been in very large SPS dominant tanks. Sorry...

Sugar Magnolia · 08/21/2010, 09:34 AM

Read through these two threads - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1879315 and http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1893404

seanothon · 08/21/2010, 09:57 AM

I am seeing alot about pairing these fish. There is currently another one at the same LFS i got this one from that I could get. The one I have has not stopped eating or anything like that though...

fleming3 · 08/21/2010, 10:35 AM

I have to admit, after all the research I did on these fish concerning their diet and aquarium mortality rates, I was super excited when I found one that was on prepared foods. I had one that was eating frozen brine, Formula 1, and mysis shrimp. Despite 3x daily feedings, and losing most of the polyps on my acros, the fish lasted a month. I can completely understand the allure of having one on prepared foods - I myself gave in and got one. But after reading all the articles, and having one myself, I'm back to believing these fish are basically dead once they leave the reef.

seanothon · 08/22/2010, 11:01 AM

Picked up some Zoe and am soaking the brine shrimp in it. The fish looks great still and gets nice and chubby after each feeding. Anyone think I need to buy the other one to increase my overall chances?

I am just starting to think a pair would be cool at this point.

flying_dutchman · 08/22/2010, 01:03 PM

Matt Pedersen was able to train and breed these fish, so it's definitely possible to keep them. If he was already eating frozen foods I don't blame you for buying them.

Check out the March/April 2009 issue of CORAL Magazine. It has a nice article about the experience of Matt Pedersen with the filefish.
Good luck!

Slafav · 08/22/2010, 01:27 PM

Can it eat frozen mysis? Might get better nutrition out of the mysis if it will eat them.

seanothon · 08/22/2010, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slafav

Can it eat frozen mysis? Might get better nutrition out of the mysis if it will eat them.

I have not tried yet but I will keep the post updated. I am thinking of buying the second one at the store. I think they may like the company.

seanothon · 08/23/2010, 02:30 PM

Just picked up the other one as well as some Formula One. Both are still eating great and I hope the company will keep their spirits up.
From what I have researched it appears to be a male and female so we will see where this goes!

seanothon · 10/03/2010, 11:37 AM

Update! Lost the female after about a week but the male is still doing great

seanothon · 01/11/2011, 02:21 PM

Update! the male is now on a diet of mysis and formula 1. No more brine at all. He is starting to get nice and plump

sland · 01/11/2011, 02:54 PM

That's good to hear...I have always loved that fish, good luck with him and keep us posted!!

small alien · 01/11/2011, 02:56 PM

That's awesome. Congratulations. Pics?

seanothon · 01/20/2011, 11:45 AM

camera's down right now but ill get them asap

geckoejon · 06/07/2014, 06:26 AM

any update? i saw a pair eating prepared food, but still cautious...

08/21/2010, 09:17 AM	#1
seanothon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 291	Just picked up an orange spotted filefish I know what you are going to say... BUT it was already eating at the store. It munches down on frozen brine shrimp. It looks great. Not skinny, beautiful color. I am just wondering if anyone has any advice as to where to go from here. It is my first and only fish in my new show 55 sump and seems to be doing fine. Do you think I need to supplement the food? Soak it in vitamins, etc?

08/21/2010, 09:21 AM	#2
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	If you are talking about Oxymonacanthus longirostris it will perish if they do not get a steady diet of coral polyps. Brine shrimp holds little to no nutritional values. These fish feed strictly on the polyps of small polyp stony corals. This is definitely a fish that should be left in the ocean. Ive seen only a few people keep these alive in closed systems. Theyve always been in pairs and have always been in very large SPS dominant tanks. Sorry... __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

08/21/2010, 09:34 AM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Read through these two threads - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1879315 and http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1893404 __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

08/21/2010, 10:35 AM	#5
fleming3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashville Posts: 94	I have to admit, after all the research I did on these fish concerning their diet and aquarium mortality rates, I was super excited when I found one that was on prepared foods. I had one that was eating frozen brine, Formula 1, and mysis shrimp. Despite 3x daily feedings, and losing most of the polyps on my acros, the fish lasted a month. I can completely understand the allure of having one on prepared foods - I myself gave in and got one. But after reading all the articles, and having one myself, I'm back to believing these fish are basically dead once they leave the reef. __________________ ___________________ Chris Current Tank Info: 60G cube in build stage

01/11/2011, 02:56 PM	#14
small alien The fungus is among us. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 3,884	That's awesome. Congratulations. Pics? __________________ This moment is all we have. Current Tank Info: 75 mixed reef. F OSFF, Clingfish, M/F Leopards, M Mandy, Darwin Clown, Bullet Goby, Green Clown Goby, M/F Matted Files, Bluestripe Pipe, Tailspot Blenny, Canary Wrasse, Royal Gramma, Papua Toby Puffer, Snooty Maori Wrasse.

08/21/2010, 09:57 AM	#4
seanothon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 291	I am seeing alot about pairing these fish. There is currently another one at the same LFS i got this one from that I could get. The one I have has not stopped eating or anything like that though...

08/22/2010, 11:01 AM	#6
seanothon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 291	Picked up some Zoe and am soaking the brine shrimp in it. The fish looks great still and gets nice and chubby after each feeding. Anyone think I need to buy the other one to increase my overall chances? I am just starting to think a pair would be cool at this point.

08/22/2010, 01:03 PM	#7
flying_dutchman Moved On Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,319	Matt Pedersen was able to train and breed these fish, so it's definitely possible to keep them. If he was already eating frozen foods I don't blame you for buying them. Check out the March/April 2009 issue of CORAL Magazine. It has a nice article about the experience of Matt Pedersen with the filefish. Good luck!

08/22/2010, 01:27 PM	#8
Slafav Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Posts: 43	Can it eat frozen mysis? Might get better nutrition out of the mysis if it will eat them.

08/23/2010, 02:30 PM	#10
seanothon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 291	Just picked up the other one as well as some Formula One. Both are still eating great and I hope the company will keep their spirits up. From what I have researched it appears to be a male and female so we will see where this goes!

10/03/2010, 11:37 AM	#11
seanothon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 291	Update! Lost the female after about a week but the male is still doing great

01/11/2011, 02:21 PM	#12
seanothon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 291	Update! the male is now on a diet of mysis and formula 1. No more brine at all. He is starting to get nice and plump

01/11/2011, 02:54 PM	#13
sland Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Fort Riley, KS Posts: 186	That's good to hear...I have always loved that fish, good luck with him and keep us posted!!

01/20/2011, 11:45 AM	#15
seanothon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 291	camera's down right now but ill get them asap

06/07/2014, 06:26 AM	#16
geckoejon Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: cocoa, florida Posts: 1,278	any update? i saw a pair eating prepared food, but still cautious... __________________ jonathan -- always curious, trying to learn, and try to pass along what others have shared with me -- Current Tank Info: 220g mixed reef & a red sea reefer bad fish tank :0)

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