Fringed Filefish - Monacanthus ciliatus - Small

The Fringed Filefish (Monacanthus ciliatus) has a pale green body that is flattened and very thin from side to side. The body is diamond-shaped and designed for picking tiny crustaceans and inverts from crevices in the reef and rockwork.

Filefish are related to the "Triggerfish" common to the aquarium trade but are generally much more docile and peaceful in nature. Although they are compatible with most fish of a similar temperament, they are generally not Reef Safe and will pick at corals, polyps, crabs and other invertebrates. They are best kept in a peaceful, fish-only community aquarium.

Some filefish may be tricky to acclimate to an aquarium diet. Most will accept meaty foods like plankton, clams, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp and similar items. Filefish have small mouths designed for picking food items from small crevices and they cannot eat large items. They may still pick at or attempt to eat crustaceans like shrimp however and may pick at or eat some corals and polyps.