How difficult is it to keep Orange Spotted Filefish?

Advanced. This is an advanced-level species. It requires specialized equipment and advanced husbandry skills with precise environmental control.

What is the ideal temperature for Orange Spotted Filefish?

The ideal temperature for Orange Spotted Filefish is 22〜26℃. Avoid sudden temperature changes and maintain a stable environment.

What is the lifespan of Orange Spotted Filefish?

The average lifespan of Orange Spotted Filefish is 1-3 years. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.

How large does Orange Spotted Filefish get?

Orange Spotted Filefish typically reaches Up to 12cm as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.

What is the typical price for Orange Spotted Filefish?

The price of Orange Spotted Filefish varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Orange Spotted Filefish

Q: What should I feed Orange Spotted Filefish?

Orange Spotted Filefish feeds on: Acropora polyps (staple); weaned fish take frozen mysis and prepared foods. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.

Advanced

Oxymonacanthus longirostris

A slender little filefish, blue-green with rows of orange spots. In the wild it eats only Acropora polyps, and in captivity most refuse substitutes and die early, making it a difficult species.

Difficulty

Advanced

Temperature

22〜26℃

Lifespan

1-3 years

Size

Up to 12cm

Diet

Acropora polyps (staple); weaned fish take frozen mysis and prepared foods

About

The Orange Spotted Filefish (Oxymonacanthus longirostris) is a small monacanthid found across the Indo-Pacific from East Africa to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to the Great Barrier Reef. It lives in clear lagoons and seaward reefs at 1-35m, swimming in pairs or small groups among Acropora branches. The blue-green body carries rows of orange spots and a long slender snout. It is monogamous and spawns at the base of dead corals or in clumps of algae. In the wild it feeds exclusively on Acropora polyps throughout the day, so coral bleaching translates directly into population loss, and IUCN assesses it as Vulnerable. Maximum 12cm. Keep at 22-26C, pH 8.1-8.4 and SG 1.022-1.025 in a calm tank of 200L or more, but food is the crux: unless live Acropora is supplied continuously or a fish already weaned onto frozen mysis and prepared foods is chosen, most waste away within a short time. Captive breeding has succeeded but such fish are rarely available. It is peaceful and suits slow tankmates such as seahorses and pipefish, but cannot go in a reef tank because it eats Acropora.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Lifespan of the Orange Spotted Filefish

The Orange Spotted Filefish lives 1-3 years.

Size of the Orange Spotted Filefish

The Orange Spotted Filefish grows to Up to 12cm.

Temperature & humidity for the Orange Spotted Filefish

The ideal temperature for the Orange Spotted Filefish is 22〜26℃.

Basic Info

Origin

Indo-Pacific (East Africa to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef)

Care Specifications

pH: 8.1–8.4
Water Temp.: 22–26℃
Specific Gravity: 1.022–1.025
Min. Tank: 200 L

PeacefulNot reef safePairBreeding: Very hard

Sources: Reeflings / FishBase

References & Sources

Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team

The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.

Primary sources

Taxonomy & Authority

Accepted name: Oxymonacanthus longirostris (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Synonyms: Balistes hispidus longirostris

Authority databases: WoRMS · FishBase

Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.

Regulations & Conservation Status

Not CITES-listedIUCN VU · Vulnerable

Sources: CITES Appendices (species not listed) / IUCN Red List

Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.