
Aiptasia-eating filefish
Acreichthys tomentosus
It drifts on quivering fins and changes color to match its surroundings.
The Aiptasia-eating filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) is a tropical marine fish of the family Monacanthidae. It lives on and around reefs, between 2 and 15 m deep. Adults grow to about 12 cm; the largest on record measured 14 cm (standard length). In the aquarium it needs a tank at least 75 cm long and water at 23–27 °C.
- Size
- 12 cm
- Smallest tank
- 75 cm
- Temperature
- 23–27 °C
- Care
- Moderate
In the aquarium
Temperature23–27 °C
pH7.8–8.5
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Activity
- Calm
- Water layer
- Mid water
- Group
- Lives on its own
- Coral
- Nips corals
These values are compiled from real species data, and the LumaReef simulation is built to keep them true to life.
Which tank it fits
- Nano60 cm · 65 litresToo small
- Standard90 cm · 180 litres12 of them
- Wide120 cm · 300 litres20 of them
- Living room180 cm · 650 litres43 of them
- Showcase250 cm · 1,200 litres80 of them
- Gallery300 cm · 1,440 litres96 of them
Who it lives with
Gets along89 species
- Tomato clownfish
- Lemonpeel angelfish
- Bicolor angelfish
- Melanurus wrasse
- Scott's fairy wrasse
- Exquisite fairy wrasse
- Lawnmower blenny
- Midas blenny
- Starry blenny
- Pearlscale butterflyfish
- Longnose hawkfish
- Clarkii clownfish
- Yellow coris wrasse
- Leopard wrasse
- Diamond watchman goby
- Valentini puffer
- Kole tang
- Flame angelfish
- Coral beauty angelfish
- Potter's angelfish
- Radiant wrasse
- Mystery wrasse
- Cleaner wrasse
- Bicolor blenny
Caution1 species
Narrow shared temperature range
Not together9 species
In the wild
- Water type
- Marine
- Climate zone
- Tropical
- Habitat
- Coral and rocky reefs
- Largest on record
- 14 cmstandard length, tail fin excluded
- Aquarium trade
- Traded commercially
Depth
surface
2 m15 m
Conservation status
Classification
- OrderTetraodontiformes
- FamilyMonacanthidae
- GenusAcreichthys
- SpeciesAcreichthys tomentosus
In other languages
- English
- Bristle-tail Leatherjacket
- German
- Seegras-Feilenfisch
- Italian
- Pesce lima coda di setola
- Japanese
- フチドリカワハギ
- Chinese
- 白線鬃尾單棘魨
Quick answers
- Aiptasia-eating filefish size: how big does it get?
- Adults reach about 12 cm. The largest on record measured 14 cm (standard length). Record sizes among the 33 Monacanthidae species on LumaReef: 10 cm (Southern Pygmy Leatherjacket) to 110 cm (Scrawled Filefish).
- Aiptasia-eating filefish tank size: what is the minimum?
- A tank at least 75 cm long. In LumaReef that is the Standard tank or larger.
- Aiptasia-eating filefish water parameters: what does it need?
- Temperature 23–27 °C, pH 7.8–8.5.
- Aiptasia-eating filefish tank mates: what can it live with?
- It gets along with 89 of the 99 reef species in the catalogue, such as Tomato clownfish, Lemonpeel angelfish, and Bicolor angelfish.
- Aiptasia-eating filefish: alone or in a group?
- It can be kept on its own.
- Aiptasia-eating filefish and corals: is it reef safe?
- No, it may nip at corals.
- Aiptasia-eating filefish depth: how deep does it live?
- In the wild, 2 to 15 m down. Shallower than most Monacanthidae on LumaReef (1–43 m).
Similar species
Sources
Aiptasia-eating filefish: compiled from these references.









