Matted filefish

Care at a glance

The matted filefish is mottled green-brown with small skin flaps, which makes it nearly invisible among algae and rock. It is bought mainly to control aiptasia, and of all the so-called aiptasia eaters it is the most reliable at it.

But beware: it also eats coral polyps, so in a well-stocked reef tank you are taking a risk. Add it temporarily, or only to a tank without sensitive corals, and start feeding it once the aiptasia are gone, otherwise it will look for an alternative itself.

Best not combined with

• Berghia nudibranch (aiptasia eater)Berghia stephanieae

Related species

• Snowflake eelEchidna nebulosa
• Starry blennySalarias ramosus
• Longnose hawkfishOxycirrhites typus
• Ribbon eelRhinomuraena quaesita
• Clarkii clownfishAmphiprion clarkii
• Naso tangNaso lituratus