All fish / Monacanthidae

Tasselled Filefish

Chaetodermis penicilligerus

Also known as prickly leatherjacket, tassled filefish, tasseled filefish, leafy filefish, prickly filefish, weedy filefish, caution, ヒゲハギ, 棘皮单棘鲀, 须鳞鲀

A deep-bodied, compressed filefish covered in leafy skin tassels, with dark lengthwise lines over a tan to yellowish body. Its camouflage and slow, hovering swimming make it an unusual centrepiece for a fish-only or seagrass-style marine tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

25 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Singly, or as a mated pair in a large tank

Diet

Omnivore: mysis, krill, chopped seafood, mussel, algae and spirulina-based foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, northern Australia, southern Japan

Breeding

Pairs lay demersal eggs that the parents guard on the substrate, but captive breeding is very rarely reported and is not practical for most hobbyists.

Good to know

Not reef safe, as it will nip corals, clams, anemones and small invertebrates, and it can reach about 30 cm in total length. Slow feeders may lose out to boisterous tankmates, so pick calm companions.