Whitespotted Pygmy Filefish

stscream4187 · 07/22/2015, 06:25 AM

Hey all,

I am beginning to plan for a new tank, which will be a reef somewhere between 250 and 350 gallons. I really love the Whitespotted Pygmy Filefish, especially since they are now captive bred by ORA. I want to start with a group of these and then plan my fish from there, but I am having a hard time finding information out there on these fish and their compatibility.

Does anyone have experience with these? If so, what have you kept with them successfully? What fish should I avoid as tank mates?

Also, I would love to get a group of them, maybe 9 or 10. Any issues with this from your experience?

And if you have a resource for information on these fish I would greatly appreciate it.

Other fish I am considering based on my likes:

Pair of clownfish
Sailfin Tang/Purple Tang
Emperor or Queen Angel
Anthias (still not decided species)

Thanks for reading.

Jeff

bat21 · 07/22/2015, 02:10 PM

It's not the type of fish you buy a group of. Single or pair. I've never heard of them existing in groups. They will also probably not do very well in a tank with tangs and angels and anthias. They are very small and VERY timid.

If you like filefish, then go for the big guy, the tassle filefish. It's a much larger version that would make more sense in a tank that large with large inhabitants.

anbosu · 07/22/2015, 02:26 PM

My local store suggested keeping them in groups. I never have, though.

triksrevival · 07/22/2015, 05:25 PM

Ive had two for a few months now, bought as a pair off DD. One of my favorite fish in the tank, they are defiantly not a timid little fish for their size. They eat anything what I feed which is mysis, emerald entrée, and coral frenzy. They also pick at the rock hunting for pods

stscream4187 · 07/22/2015, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bat21

It's not the type of fish you buy a group of. Single or pair. I've never heard of them existing in groups. They will also probably not do very well in a tank with tangs and angels and anthias. They are very small and VERY timid.

If you like filefish, then go for the big guy, the tassle filefish. It's a much larger version that would make more sense in a tank that large with large inhabitants.

Do you have any experience with them?

ORA notes on their website that they keep a group of them in a tank......

http://www.orafarm.com/blog/2014/11/...ygmy-filefish/

stscream4187 · 07/22/2015, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triksrevival

Ive had two for a few months now, bought as a pair off DD. One of my favorite fish in the tank, they are defiantly not a timid little fish for their size. They eat anything what I feed which is mysis, emerald entrée, and coral frenzy. They also pick at the rock hunting for pods

Great, thanks. Mind if I ask what size tank and what other fish you keep them with?

triksrevival · 07/22/2015, 08:56 PM

They are in a 75 gallon sps/zoa with a midas blenny, tailspot blenny pair, two clowns, flasher wrasse, and bristle tooth tang. Also they haven't touched any corals like some other filefish do.

stscream4187 · 07/23/2015, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triksrevival

They are in a 75 gallon sps/zoa with a midas blenny, tailspot blenny pair, two clowns, flasher wrasse, and bristle tooth tang. Also they haven't touched any corals like some other filefish do.

Great thanks for the help.

bat21 · 07/23/2015, 10:36 AM

The one I had only made it a few weeks after going in my DT. Had trouble competing for food, but it may have had vision issues. It was also wild caught. I'm going to try one of the ORA ones next.

stscream4187 · 07/24/2015, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bat21

The one I had only made it a few weeks after going in my DT. Had trouble competing for food, but it may have had vision issues. It was also wild caught. I'm going to try one of the ORA ones next.

Thanks, bat21. If you do end up getting one, let me know I am curious as to how your experience will differ.

bat21 · 08/21/2015, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stscream4187

Thanks, bat21. If you do end up getting one, let me know I am curious as to how your experience will differ.

So I ended up getting that tank raised pair of whitespotted pygmy filefish from divers den. And I could not have been more wrong with what I said earlier in this thread. The original wild caught file that I got definitely had something wrong with it from the start.

These guys though? Oh man, I have never seen such voracious eaters! They don't care who is around them, they dart in and take whatever food I put in there. Pellets, ROE, frozen, live blackworms. And then they also spend the rest of their days picking at algae all over the tank. They poop a ton for such small fish.

I got what was referred to as a bonded pair. And while they have no problems with eachother at all, they don't really pair up. They each do their own thing, which I have no issue with. But they are awesome fish. Great personalities, not timid, and fantastic eaters. I highly recommend them.

stscream4187 · 08/21/2015, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bat21

So I ended up getting that tank raised pair of whitespotted pygmy filefish from divers den. And I could not have been more wrong with what I said earlier in this thread. The original wild caught file that I got definitely had something wrong with it from the start.

These guys though? Oh man, I have never seen such voracious eaters! They don't care who is around them, they dart in and take whatever food I put in there. Pellets, ROE, frozen, live blackworms. And then they also spend the rest of their days picking at algae all over the tank. They poop a ton for such small fish.

I got what was referred to as a bonded pair. And while they have no problems with eachother at all, they don't really pair up. They each do their own thing, which I have no issue with. But they are awesome fish. Great personalities, not timid, and fantastic eaters. I highly recommend them.

Wow, great to hear! Making me more excited to set up the new tank. What size tank are they in of yours right now?!

bat21 · 08/21/2015, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stscream4187

Wow, great to hear! Making me more excited to set up the new tank. What size tank are they in of yours right now?!

I have a 66 gallon which they share with a pair of clowns, royal gramma, firefish, possum wrasse, and neon goby. All small and peaceful.

stscream4187 · 08/24/2015, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bat21

I have a 66 gallon which they share with a pair of clowns, royal gramma, firefish, possum wrasse, and neon goby. All small and peaceful.

Great. Thanks again for the insight.

makers marc · 09/25/2015, 12:14 PM

You need to make sure you don't have too much flow in your tank. I bought one of the ORA white spotted pygmy from my LFS, after reading on the ORA site that they like high flow.

I had 1 x Jebao wp25 on my 75 gallon when I first bought it and for 2 weeks it was happy and eating everything, including tisbe pods on my LR which surprised me. Then after adding a 2nd Jeboao wp25, I noticed it began biting on too the LR and hanging on for hours at a time. When I turned off one powerhead it would let go and resume pecking and swimming. After 1 week with both on, I noticed it starting to "ride the waves" more, it died soon after as it got weaker each day.

Point being, I recommend lower flow tanks for these.

Dkuhlmann · 09/25/2015, 07:46 PM

Sounds like a great fish, now the BIG question

DO THEY EAT AIPTASIA?

Ron Popeil · 09/28/2015, 08:38 AM

from what i hear, they do not eat aiptasia sadly. theyre almost too reef safe. i have two in my tank as well, absolutely one of my most favorite fish in the aquarium.

bat21 · 09/30/2015, 09:29 PM

The way mine tear apart live black worms and frequently nip at rocks, I can absolutely see them chowing down on aiptasia. But I don't have any, so, only a guess.

Dkuhlmann · 10/01/2015, 06:55 AM

Bat21.. maybe you could get a rock from a close lfs that is covered in aiptasia to see if it would eat them. This would be the perfect addition to all reef tanks if they do in fact eat aiptasia.

jalisco · 03/17/2016, 11:37 PM

Did you ever put together a group of these? Can anyone else comment on the sensativity towards high flow?

bat21 · 03/18/2016, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalisco

Did you ever put together a group of these? Can anyone else comment on the sensativity towards high flow?

Can't speak to the group question, but I definitely would not put one in a tank with high flow. They are not the strongest swimmers. But the real issue is that because of their thin flat shape their body acts as a sail in strong currents. My tank is low flow overall, but whenever mine swims past the return pump stream it gets tossed around like like a rag doll.

bat21 · 03/18/2016, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

Bat21.. maybe you could get a rock from a close lfs that is covered in aiptasia to see if it would eat them. This would be the perfect addition to all reef tanks if they do in fact eat aiptasia.

Haha, I just saw this. Great idea!

Myles · 03/23/2016, 02:45 PM

I just got a an ORA captive bred from divers den and it's already out and about. I'm all jazzed.
Myles

makers marc · 01/18/2018, 03:40 PM

How are yalls filefish doing?

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

07/22/2015, 06:25 AM	#1
stscream4187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 122	Whitespotted Pygmy Filefish Hey all, I am beginning to plan for a new tank, which will be a reef somewhere between 250 and 350 gallons. I really love the Whitespotted Pygmy Filefish, especially since they are now captive bred by ORA. I want to start with a group of these and then plan my fish from there, but I am having a hard time finding information out there on these fish and their compatibility. Does anyone have experience with these? If so, what have you kept with them successfully? What fish should I avoid as tank mates? Also, I would love to get a group of them, maybe 9 or 10. Any issues with this from your experience? And if you have a resource for information on these fish I would greatly appreciate it. Other fish I am considering based on my likes: Pair of clownfish Sailfin Tang/Purple Tang Emperor or Queen Angel Anthias (still not decided species) Thanks for reading. Jeff

09/25/2015, 12:14 PM	#15
makers marc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 283	You need to make sure you don't have too much flow in your tank. I bought one of the ORA white spotted pygmy from my LFS, after reading on the ORA site that they like high flow. I had 1 x Jebao wp25 on my 75 gallon when I first bought it and for 2 weeks it was happy and eating everything, including tisbe pods on my LR which surprised me. Then after adding a 2nd Jeboao wp25, I noticed it began biting on too the LR and hanging on for hours at a time. When I turned off one powerhead it would let go and resume pecking and swimming. After 1 week with both on, I noticed it starting to "ride the waves" more, it died soon after as it got weaker each day. Point being, I recommend lower flow tanks for these. __________________ 75g SPS dominant (Ca= 400ppm, Mg = 1350ppm, Kh= 8.5dkh) 2xJebao wp25/Kessil Ap700/Kalk via Tunze ATO/GFO (6 tbsps every 2 wks); Carbon (6 tbsps per month)

09/25/2015, 07:46 PM	#16
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Sounds like a great fish, now the BIG question DO THEY EAT AIPTASIA? __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

09/28/2015, 08:38 AM	#17
Ron Popeil Love them clownfish. Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 2,268	from what i hear, they do not eat aiptasia sadly. theyre almost too reef safe. i have two in my tank as well, absolutely one of my most favorite fish in the aquarium. __________________ ...he came with a razor blade bound, like us all, for the ocean... Current Tank Info: 150 DD

10/01/2015, 06:55 AM	#19
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Bat21.. maybe you could get a rock from a close lfs that is covered in aiptasia to see if it would eat them. This would be the perfect addition to all reef tanks if they do in fact eat aiptasia. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

07/22/2015, 02:10 PM	#2
bat21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 701	It's not the type of fish you buy a group of. Single or pair. I've never heard of them existing in groups. They will also probably not do very well in a tank with tangs and angels and anthias. They are very small and VERY timid. If you like filefish, then go for the big guy, the tassle filefish. It's a much larger version that would make more sense in a tank that large with large inhabitants.

07/22/2015, 02:26 PM	#3
anbosu Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mount Juliet, TN Posts: 4,528	My local store suggested keeping them in groups. I never have, though.

07/22/2015, 05:25 PM	#4
triksrevival Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: El Paso, Tx Posts: 62	Ive had two for a few months now, bought as a pair off DD. One of my favorite fish in the tank, they are defiantly not a timid little fish for their size. They eat anything what I feed which is mysis, emerald entrée, and coral frenzy. They also pick at the rock hunting for pods

07/22/2015, 08:56 PM	#7
triksrevival Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: El Paso, Tx Posts: 62	They are in a 75 gallon sps/zoa with a midas blenny, tailspot blenny pair, two clowns, flasher wrasse, and bristle tooth tang. Also they haven't touched any corals like some other filefish do.

07/23/2015, 10:36 AM	#9
bat21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 701	The one I had only made it a few weeks after going in my DT. Had trouble competing for food, but it may have had vision issues. It was also wild caught. I'm going to try one of the ORA ones next.

09/30/2015, 09:29 PM	#18
bat21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 701	The way mine tear apart live black worms and frequently nip at rocks, I can absolutely see them chowing down on aiptasia. But I don't have any, so, only a guess.

03/17/2016, 11:37 PM	#20
jalisco Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Bay Area, Peoples Republic of Kalifornia Posts: 325	Did you ever put together a group of these? Can anyone else comment on the sensativity towards high flow?

03/23/2016, 02:45 PM	#23
Myles Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 262	I just got a an ORA captive bred from divers den and it's already out and about. I'm all jazzed. Myles __________________ Myles

01/18/2018, 03:40 PM	#24
makers marc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 283	How are yalls filefish doing? Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk __________________ 75g SPS dominant (Ca= 400ppm, Mg = 1350ppm, Kh= 8.5dkh) 2xJebao wp25/Kessil Ap700/Kalk via Tunze ATO/GFO (6 tbsps every 2 wks); Carbon (6 tbsps per month)