Oxymonacanthus longirostris (Orange Spotted Filefish)

[ScubaSteve]

This is pretty cool. Good work so far. Let see if we all can't help you be successful.

There is a great article here on getting picky angels to eat. The guy who wrote the article has weened some of the most difficult fish (mostly angels) to frozen using this technique. Basically the idea is to make a mush for foods and then freeze it onto whatever the fish normally eats. For instance he froze it onto empty clam shells; naturally, the fish would pick at it and start to eat. As the frozen food thawed, it would start to float into the water column and eventually they'd get used to eating right out of the water column during normal feeding time. I used the same trick to get my Potter's Wrasse to start eating and now have the fat bastard fully trained onto frozen. There is a famous collector in China who uses the same technique to acclimate all of his rare angels (like the $1000+ kind).

I wonder if you could try the same trick with bare/dead acropora skeletons until they get used to frozen?

[Psyire]

Thanks for the comments! So far I'm having some good luck with these two, they are eating NLS pellets and Fauna Marin Pellets. They also started eating Cyclopeeze out of the water column yesterday, so that's awesome. I've noticed they are starting to grab the odd pellet out of water column as well, but for the most part I have to put the pellets onto the rocks so they can peck them off. If I don't do this my other fish usually end up with the pellets as they are so used to feeding this way they are better at it than the filefish.

I would agree that these fish may not belong in a LFS, BUT one could say that about a lot of fish in the stores.. The fact that there are numerous reports of people having these fish live years in their aquariums tells me it's possible for some people. Much like a Copper Band or Moorish Idol I suppose, to the credit of the LFS, they did have 'expert only' listed beside these guys. 12 days and going strong..

Thanks for the tips on how to get these guys eating, I'm definitely willing to try anything. Ideally I'd like them to be eating Pellets, PE Mysis, and Cyclopeeze as these are the mainstay's of my aquarium. (all out of the water column) I'm close but definitely not out of woods as they are not putting on weight very fast, but I'm confident it will come.

[Psyire]

I should mention that their tank mates include:

Amphiprion ocellaris (Clownfish)
Pseudochromis aldabraensis (Neon Dottyback)
Centropyge bispinosa (Coral Beauty Dwarf Angelfish)
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia (Sixline Wrasse)
Pterapogon kauderni (Banggai Cardinalfish)
Chromis viridis (Blue/Green Chromis)

They all get along great with the Coral Beauty being the Boss man. There is very little aggression in the tank. The only thing I've noticed is that the slightly bigger filefish lets the smaller one know it's the boss once in a while. Usually during feeding, or just after. (minor chasing)

What's very interesting is that the Chromis is almost always hanging out with them. I think he think's they are strange cousins from the other side of the family. haha

[sunoka]

I really hope you have success with your new additions...I had a lot of Nay Sayers when I got my cleaner wrasse people told me I don`t have a chance in a 25 gal tank with this fish....well 6 years later still going strong. Best of luck

[michika]

If you're over on RC at all do a bit of searching, I remember at least two people keeping OSFF in the long term in tanks, one reef, one not.

Awesome find though and well done on getting them to accept the pellet and cyclopeeze

[Psyire]

Thanks!

I uploaded a video of them pecking pellets off the rocks.

http://www.elusivephotons.com/misc/a...m/OSFF_VID.avi

[Psyire]

Update time..

A few days ago both fish decided that Xenia was tasty, so they are no relentlessly eating it! I don't mind because I had so much in the tank. (see video) So now their bellies are super fat every day. They still haven't started eating anything other than the pellets and cyclopeeze. At least the Xenia is supplementing their diet in some fashion, no idea how nutritious it is though..

Oh and both Males still get along just fine and are doing great.

[Proteus]

Sitting in on this. Amazing fish.

More pics too !!!