File Fish

The file fishes are closely related to triggers and often included in the same family but, superficially at least, they are quite different. Filefish not particularly hardy, they are not nitrite tolerant, they do not have hard trigger, their scales are quite different, they grow very slowly in captivity, they are shy and retiring and not very easy to feed. In that they are peaceful, they make good aquarium fish, but they have small mouths and do not eat vegetable matter, so feed them little and often.

There are a number of comparatively peaceful species that, although not suitable for an invertebrate aquarium, would normally fit in with smaller fish. The best-known is the blue trigger (Odon us Niger), a fish with a lovely swimming action; the pink-tailed trigger (Melichthys vidua) and the white-tailed trigger (Suamen chrysoptera). Mostly file fishes grow up to 6 inches.

Colored Filefish

The head of the Colored File fish is black in color therefore the file fish is also known as Blackheaded file fish. File fish’s body color can be red or orange therefore it can have a red tail or orange tail depending on the body color of the file fish and the head can be gray to black in color. This fish is very quiet in nature and she doesn’t show any aggression towards other fishes. It requires 30 gallon tank or even more than that and the aquarium should not contain invertebrates. Initially it is difficult to feed the colored file fish. In the diet of the file fish the aquarium owner should include squid, scallop, mysis shrimp, freeze-dried krill soaked in a vitamin supplement, frozen marine algae etc. Colored file fish should be fed three times a day.

Fantail Orange Filefish

This file fish is very colorful; its body color is silver and brown and tail fin of this file fish is combination of orange, black and yellow color. It is appropriate for the 50 gallon or larger aquarium but there should be no invertebrates in the aquarium. Fantail Orange file fish is very peaceful in nature and it is not aggressive for other fishes in the aquarium. In the diet of this file fish you should include squid, mysis shrimp, freeze dried krill soaked in vitamin supplement, frozen marine algae etc. This file fish should be fed three times a day. Other names of Fantail orange file fish are Hawaiian, Fantail Orange file fish Hawaii, Fantail file fish.

Matted Filefish

Matted is very shy in nature, the body of the file fish is made up with the color combination of brown, tan and mottled green. This file fish is also famous with other names Bristletail file fish, matted Leatherjacket file fish, Tomentosus file fish or Aiptasia Eating file fish. This file fish is very quiet in nature and rarely does it show violent behavior to its other aquarium fishes. 30 gallon aquarium is appropriate for this file fish and it should not contain invertebrates. In the diet of this file fish you should include squid, mysis shrimp, freeze dried krill soaked in vitamin supplement, frozen marine algae etc. Matted file fish should be fed number of times a day but in small quantity. In this species the male fish is larger then the female fish.