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Redtail Filefish
Filefish

Redtail Filefish

Pervagor melanocephalus

The redtail (black-headed) filefish is a small, commonly imported Pervagor that stays modest in aquaria — roughly 9-10 cm, well under the ~16 cm wild maximum FishBase reports. It has a hobby reputation as an 'Aiptasia eater', but the fish actually sold and documented for that job under that name is a different species, Acreichthys tomentosus; reports of P. melanocephalus reliably clearing Aiptasia are anecdotal, inconsistent, and likely conflated with that other species — don't buy it specifically for pest control. Like other filefish it is not reef-safe: it will pick at ornamental invertebrates and nip coral polyps, so keep it fish-only or with only the hardiest, least valuable corals.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
3.9"
Min tank
30 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 Redtail 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.

Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redtail Filefish.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redtail Filefish.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redtail Filefish.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redtail Filefish.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redtail Filefish.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redtail Filefish.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Six-Line SoapfishSix-Line Soapfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redtail Filefish.Painted FrogfishPainted Frogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redtail Filefish.Blue-Leg Hermit CrabRedtail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Blue-Leg Hermit Crab is on the menu.Trochus SnailRedtail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Trochus Snail is on the menu.Astrea SnailRedtail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Astrea Snail is on the menu.Cerith SnailRedtail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Cerith Snail is on the menu.Nassarius SnailRedtail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Nassarius Snail is on the menu.Nerite SnailRedtail Filefish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Nerite Snail is on the menu.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Sailfin TangSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Naso TangNaso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Scopas TangScopas Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Blueface AngelfishBlueface Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Niger TriggerfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Blonde Naso TangBlonde Naso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Desjardini Sailfin TangDesjardini Sailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.Orange Shoulder TangOrange Shoulder Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Redtail Filefish and may harass it.