Acreichthys tomentosus

Seagrass filefish ( Acreichthys tomentosus )

The seaweed or seaweed Filefish ( Acreichthys tomentosus ) lives in the tropical Indo-Pacific from the coast of East Africa to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to New South Wales and Tonga.

Features

It is 10 to 12 centimeters long and has a relatively high rhombic body shape. The color is gray or brown with large dark spots. The fish can change color if needed and let the stains disappear. Stressed or sick animals are green. The first dorsal spine is isolated, is greatly enlarged and cut. Males have on the tail a velcro -like zone glandular dermal appendages, and an indentation between abdominal and anal fin

Fins formula: Dorsal 27-30, 26-29 Anal

Way of life

Seagrass Filefish live mainly in seagrass beds and between algae populations in the vicinity of coral reefs, but also in protected lagoon reefs at depths of one to 25 meters. Usually they are solitary animals, often they live in pairs. They feed among other things, amphipods, and mollusks Vielborstern.

Reproduction

By 2008 described the present affirmed in the aquarium the propagation of seagrass filing fish is known. The fish spawn in open sandy soil, the female takes over the care of the brood. The eggs are constantly befächelt with the pectoral fins to supply fresh water and intruders in the breeding territory, and the males are sold. The larvae hatch after three days and are then about 2.7 mm long. They develop very quickly. From the 10th day the metamorphosis begins for young fish, after 4 months they are already 4 cm long.

Hunting and

The seagrass filefish is imported as an aquarium fish because of its pleasant for saltwater aquarists property that eating as harmful perceived Aiptasia anemones and fire. However, the willingness to eat small sea anemones is individually different and the fish can also eat giant clams, tube worms, large polyped stony corals and some soft corals. Small polyp stony corals seem to be safe from them.