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Fantail Filefish
Filefish

Fantail Filefish

Pervagor spilosoma

The fantail filefish is a Hawaiian reef fish (rare strays reach Johnston Atoll) growing to about 18 cm, and one of the hardier filefish in the trade — most specimens transition to frozen and prepared foods without much fuss. In the wild it grazes algae, small benthic invertebrates and coral polyps, so treat it as reef-caution rather than reef-safe: it will pick at ornamental snails/worms and nip coral tissue given the chance. Best kept singly (or as an established pair) in a tank of roughly 200+ litres with plenty of live rock to browse.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
7.1"
Min tank
55 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe with caution
Diet
Omnivore
Zone
Mid-water, Rockwork
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Fantail Filefish gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Fantail Filefish.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Fantail Filefish.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Fantail Filefish.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Fantail Filefish and may harass it.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Fantail Filefish and may harass it.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Fantail Filefish and may harass it.Blue-Leg Hermit CrabFantail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Blue-Leg Hermit Crab is on the menu.Trochus SnailFantail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Trochus Snail is on the menu.Astrea SnailFantail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Astrea Snail is on the menu.Cerith SnailFantail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Cerith Snail is on the menu.Nassarius SnailFantail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Nassarius Snail is on the menu.Nerite SnailFantail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Nerite Snail is on the menu.Mexican Turbo SnailFantail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Mexican Turbo Snail is on the menu.Bumble Bee SnailFantail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Bumble Bee Snail is on the menu.Scarlet Reef Hermit CrabFantail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab is on the menu.Zebra Hermit CrabFantail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Zebra Hermit Crab is on the menu.Halloween Hermit CrabFantail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Halloween Hermit Crab is on the menu.Emerald CrabFantail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Emerald Crab is on the menu.Sally Lightfoot CrabFantail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Sally Lightfoot Crab is on the menu.Skunk Cleaner ShrimpFantail Filefish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Skunk Cleaner Shrimp is on the menu.