Is the Aiptasia-Eating Filefish completely reef safe?

No, they are 'reef safe with caution'. While they excel at eating Aiptasia, they are known to nip at soft corals, zoanthids, and sometimes LPS corals, especially if they run out of Aiptasia.

Will my Filefish definitely eat Aiptasia?

Most individuals will readily consume Aiptasia, but like many biological controls, it is not absolutely guaranteed. Some may take weeks to recognise it as food, while a rare few might ignore it entirely.

Can I keep more than one Aiptasia-Eating Filefish together?

They are best kept individually or as a confirmed male-female pair. Keeping two males together in the same aquarium usually results in aggressive territorial disputes.

What should I feed them once the Aiptasia is gone?

You should offer a varied diet of meaty marine foods, such as mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, chopped krill, and high-quality marine flakes or pellets, alongside some vegetable matter.

Why is my Filefish hovering vertically?

This is completely normal behaviour. In the wild, they hover vertically among seagrass blades to camouflage themselves from predators, drifting naturally with the water flow.

MarineMarineIntermediate

Aiptasia-Eating Filefish

Acreichthys tomentosus

A brilliantly camouflaged marine fish famous for its appetite for nuisance Aiptasia anemones.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 28 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Salinity: 1.021 – 1.025 SG
Adult size: 10 – 12 cm
Standard 120L marine tank: 120 litres+
Lifespan: 5 – 7 years
Diet: omnivore
Water flow: moderate
Preferred setup: Live rock and macroalgae with plenty of hiding spaces

About the Aiptasia-Eating Filefish

The Aiptasia-Eating Filefish, or Matted Filefish, is highly prized in the marine aquarium hobby for its natural pest-control abilities. Known to actively hunt and consume Aiptasia glass anemones, it offers a biological solution to a common reef tank problem. However, their dietary habits mean they are not entirely reef safe, as they may turn their attention to prized fleshy corals once their preferred food is exhausted.

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Where Aiptasia-Eating Filefish comes from

Native range

Indo-West Pacific

Countries / regions

Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, Fiji

Habitat

Shallow seagrass beds, weed-covered rocky reefs, and rubble zones

Widespread across the Indo-West Pacific, frequently found in habitats rich in macroalgae and seagrass.

Similar species

Copperband Butterflyfish
Chelmon rostratus
Peppermint Shrimp
Lysmata wurdemanni

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

View all compatibility

Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Peaceful and robust enough to ignore the filefish, sharing the tank without issue.
Great
Tailspot Blenny
Ecsenius stigmatura
A peaceful herbivore that occupies different niches and will not compete aggressively for food.
Great
Zoanthids
Zoanthus spp.
Filefish are notorious for nipping fleshy coral polyps, particularly once their preferred Aiptasia food source is exhausted.
Compatible with caution
Peppermint Shrimp
Lysmata wurdemanni
Small ornamental shrimp may be seen as a food source by adult filefish looking for a meaty meal.
Compatible with caution
Picasso Triggerfish
Rhinecanthus aculeatus
Highly aggressive and boisterous, triggerfish will easily outcompete and likely attack the timid filefish.
Not recommended

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