Tassle Filefish (7 days for Delivery)

About this fish

What is its maximum size?
Typically grows to approximately 20–30 cm in length when fully mature.
The Tassle Filefish has a distinctive flattened body covered in numerous fleshy, tassel-like appendages. Its mottled brown, beige and grey colouration, combined with irregular markings, provides excellent camouflage amongst seaweed, seagrass and rocky reef environments.
Where is its origin and where is it exported from?
Tassle Filefish are native to the Indo-Pacific region, with a natural distribution extending from the eastern Indian Ocean through Indonesia, the Philippines and northern Australia to southern Japan.
They inhabit coastal reefs, sheltered lagoons, seagrass beds and weedy environments, where they use their unusual appearance to blend into their surroundings.
They are occasionally exported for the aquarium trade from countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines. 


Is it reef compatible?
Not considered reef safe. Although Tassle Filefish are generally peaceful towards other fish, they naturally feed on a variety of small invertebrates and other organisms.
They may nip at or consume:Soft corals.LPS corals.SPS corals.Sponges.Zoanthids.Anemones.Ornamental shrimp and crabs.Snails and other small invertebrates.
They may also consume nuisance Aiptasia anemones.
What should I feed it?
Tassle Filefish are omnivores with a preference for meaty foods and small invertebrates. They also benefit from vegetable-based foods as part of a varied diet.
Suitable foods include:Frozen mysis shrimp.Enriched brine shrimp.Chopped prawns and shrimp.Chopped squid.Krill.Mussels and clams.Marine fish flesh.Spirulina-enriched foods.Marine algae and nori.
Feed small portions two to three times daily. Providing a varied diet is particularly important, as they naturally browse amongst rockwork and vegetation throughout the day.

How many can I keep?
Generally best kept individually in home aquariums.
Adult Tassle Filefish can become territorial towards other members of their own species and similar-looking filefish.
Keeping multiple specimens is not generally recommended unless housed in a very large aquarium with plenty of space and suitable separation.
How compatible is it with other fish?
Generally peaceful and relatively shy, making it suitable for carefully selected marine community aquariums.
Suitable tankmates may include:
Tangs.Rabbitfish.Clownfish.Cardinalfish.Larger gobies.Peaceful wrasses.Other suitably sized peaceful marine fish.
Avoid keeping them with aggressive or boisterous species that may intimidate them or outcompete them for food.
Particular care should be taken with triggerfish, puffers and other fish that may nip at their delicate fleshy appendages. 


Water parameters
Temperature: 24–27°C
pH: 8.1–8.4
Specific gravity (salinity): 1.023–1.026
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: Keep as low as practical through good filtration and regular water changes.
Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH
Calcium: 380–450 ppm
Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm