Long Nose Filefish...NOT! For Captive Keeping II – 02/14/06
Thank you for the reply, as I said I knew that it was a hard fish to feed, and sorry for not doing my research before buying it.  I just wanted to know if you had any additional information on the fish, because what I have read in the site from a few other owners of the long nose filefish, they have had luck with feeding.
<<But what constitutes a "few"?  One in fifty?...a hundred?...a thousand?>>
And to make you aware I think that it is feeding due to its activity when the food is in the tank and it swims from one side to the other very fast which I thought meant that maybe it was swooping it in to its mouth.
<<Why would you think this?  Have you actually seen this fish ingest food? (apparently not, according to your previous email)  Have you done any research on the feeding habits of this fish?>>
And on a side note I do know that you guys know a lot about the fish and that is why I contacted you, I did not need your response to be so rude,
<<No, wasn't meant to be rude, but 'was' meant to be matter of fact/to make a point.>>
by saying it was my fault for not doing research, and that when I said my fish was healthy looking you replied that I must not know that because I do not even know if it was eating.
<<Please keep your facts straight...  You didn't say your fish was "healthy looking", you said your fish "seems to be doing great"...and you did also say "how can I tell if he is eating it?".  A fish that is not eating is not "doing great"...and this fish specie is notorious for "not eating".  And...if it is not your fault for not doing research beforehand, whose fault should it be?>>
It actually seems that you do not know the information to tell me because you did not answer my questions you just had a smart remark to give me about every sentence.
NOT INFORMATION.  Thanks for the help but for the curiosity of the others needing your help you might not want to be so rude when responding to people just seeking your assistance.
<<Is unfortunate you view it that way/that I wasn’t able to tell you what you “wanted” to hear.  Regards, EricR >>

Orange spotted filefish... Alive!   2/7/06
Dear Bob,
<Terri>
I am a long time reader but a first time emailer so please be gentle! I have had a success where many others fail, so this is my one and only chance to
brag; plus I thought that you and others might be interested in this. I am the proud owner of an orange spotted filefish that has just past the 18 month mark.
<Congratulations!>
He, (well I assume he is a 'he'), lives in my 75 gallon seahorse tank with 8 horses and a long nosed hawk fish. I know that you are not going
to believe this, but he consists solely on a diet of frozen foods.
<Have seen this>
This includes Hikari Mysis, Marine Green, Marine Dinner, Frozen Squid and occasionally as a treat, live brine. Additional to this, he picks at a strip
of Nori I hang in the tank. Attached are a couple of pictures showing how healthy he is. I keep meaning to borrow a video camera so that I can make a
short film of him eating the frozen food and send it to you (if you are interested). It is amazing watching him eat the Mysis through his long
tubular snout. I am religious with my water changes, tank maintenance and have a skimmer, chiller and U.V. sterilizer. I am not encouraging novice
reefers to try to keep this fish, but I just letting people out there know that it is possible. This is my first filefish and he is definitely my pride
and joy! I love him more than my seahorses and that is saying something!
Hope you found this interesting,
Terri Rennie - (Sydney, Australia)
<Thank you for this input. I do suspect that your success is due to the peaceful setting, good care you've provided... and the initial good health of your specimen. Cheers, Bob Fenner>
_______________________________________
I don't care what you say... ASCII art is still cool!

http://www.seahorse.org (SilverSeahorse)

            \ \__
           , "     "-.
           o   , ---. ` ,
          / . "   /  .  /
        / /    ,   " . . |
              /   / . .  / / /
            /    / . . . / - -
          |       | . . . | \ \ \
          |       | . .  /
            \     \ .  /          , " .
              \_   " - , ___   `_/
                "  _ .  ,  .  -  "
           Gwen the Seahorse
                by Terri, 2005

Tassled Filefish, sel., comp.   8/20/06
Thanks for the great service you provide.  You have helped me and countless others.
<And greatly enjoyed most moments...>
I have a compatibility question.  I lost a beloved lionfish a few months ago who was the star of the tank.  I would like to
add a fish with similar star quality but want to avoid the feeding issues I experienced with the lionfish.  (The lionfish would
begrudgingly eat frozen silversides and krill but I had to separate the other fish to give the lionfish enough peace to eat.)
<Yes... a common scenario>
I'm considering adding a Tassled Filefish to the tank.
<Neat animals... but do get large... need a few hundred gallons to "get around" even though not fast moving...>
The Tassled Filefish is definitely an incredible looking fish and from what I've read had a good temperament and is likely to accept frozen foods well.  My tank is a
250g fish only tank.
<Mmm, a good candidate thus far>
The current residents are a dogface puffer, porcupine puffer, Falco's hawkfish, sailfin tang, striped squirrelfish, a male and female bird wrasse, and a male and female blue-jaw trigger. My water quality is consistently good, with ph at 8.3, nitrates between 10 and 30, and kH between 10-12.  I do a weekly 40g water change and get
a cup of skimmate every few days.  I feed the fish frozen silversides and krill soaked in Selcon and garlic once daily.  I also give the sailfin tang Spirulina and Formula One Marine Pellets a couple times a day, which the wrasses and triggers also eat.  Most of the fish are pre-adult though the male bird wrasse and sailfin tang are adult size.
Do you think the Tassled Filefish would be a compatible addition to the tank?  
<It itself should be... there may be a bit of jousting, tussling at first with the tank and maybe some others...>
Would it be able to compete effectively for food?
<I do think so... if "given enough chance" to settle in>
  Would it be harassed when introduced?
<Is a possibility>
After introduction?
<Much less a probability... this species, Files/Monacanthids in general are "left well alone"... hard-bodied, perhaps not recognized as fishes/competitors... I give you good odds here>
I have plenty of rock in the tank, but many of the caves and crevices are frequented already by the current residents.  Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.  Mike
<Welcome. Bob Fenner, who would start with a "mid-sized" specimen... maybe 4-5 inches overall length.>