Harlequin Filefish Care Guide
Oxymonacanthus longirostris is an Indo-Pacific filefish that feeds exclusively on Acropora coral polyps and is listed as Vulnerable.
Overview
Oxymonacanthus longirostris, the Harlequin or Orange-Spotted Filefish, is a small filefish of the family Monacanthidae. Wikipedia describes a blue-green body covered in bright orange spots, with an elongated snout and a small mouth. It is an obligate corallivore that feeds on Acropora coral polyps.
Taxonomy
- Family: Monacanthidae
- Genus: Oxymonacanthus
- Scientific name: Oxymonacanthus longirostris (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Habitat
According to FishBase, the species ranges across the Indo-Pacific from East Africa south to Maputo, Mozambique, and east to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to the southern Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia and Tonga. It inhabits clear lagoon and seaward reefs at depths of 1-35 m, closely associated with branching Acropora corals.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L (about 53 gal)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F); FishBase reports a wild preferred range of 25-29 °C
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- Water flow: medium
- Lifespan: 5-8 years (KB record)
Diet
FishBase and Wikipedia state the species feeds almost exclusively on Acropora coral polyps, with Acropora millepora preferred, followed by A. hyacinthus; it occasionally takes Porites, Heliopora and some algae. This dietary specialization makes it unsuitable for reef aquaria with stony corals and difficult to feed in captivity.
Compatibility
The species is peaceful toward most fish but will nip and consume corals, so the KB record marks it as not reef-safe. It can show intraspecific aggression, especially during spawning. Suggested tankmates in the KB record include tangs, wrasses and cardinalfish, while aggressive triggers should be avoided.
Breeding
Wikipedia reports the species is monogamous; pairs perform pre-spawning rituals lasting over an hour, and females may lay over 300 eggs. Adults absorb chemicals from the coral they eat, which helps mask their scent from predators.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable (assessed 2015), with declines linked to coral bleaching that reduces its Acropora food source.