From where or what species of filefish eat aptasia

[Silverni2]

?

 

[albano]

I've had luck with bristletail/ matted filefish

 

[prattreef]

I've had luck with bristletail/ matted filefish

+1 A. tomentosus is your best bet. They are reasonably reef safe, but will pick at things like zoanthids--some a lot, others not so much. You will almost never see them pick at an aiptasia though, but one day, many weeks later you will start to notice that the aiptasia are few and far between.

 

[Mike389]

Copperband butterfly worked for me in my reef tank

 

[CHEMCHEF]

i've had luck with bristletail/ matted filefish

+1

 

[Silverni2]

+1 A. tomentosus is your best bet. They are reasonably reef safe, but will pick at things like zoanthids--some a lot, others not so much. You will almost never see them pick at an aiptasia though, but one day, many weeks later you will start to notice that the aiptasia are few and far between.

I started with 2 bristle tail file fish, one was killed by the other. The one that is still living looks like its starving and I still have a lot of aptasia. I've had them in there for close to two months.
I guess I'll just have to be patient!
120 gallon reef
Thx

 

[prattreef]

well, you do need to get it eating something. It should not be hard to get a bristletail to eat.

 

[cdamiano]

I've had luck with bristletail/ matted filefish

This one worked for me also, as well as a number of other people I know.

 

[polywise]

I've had luck with bristletail/ matted filefish

me too.
It is always nice to also have a copper band butterfly in the tank as well.

 

[ClownAquatics]

matted filefish seem to be the go to fish to remove aptasia. you could also try peppermint shrimp and as polywise mentioned a copperband

 

[brand]

I've heard of people feeding the aptasia mysis then the file fish will eat the mysis and aptasiA.. After a while you eliminate the mysis ..then they will be eating just the aptasia good luck.