Tassled filefish
Chaetodermis pencilligerus,
Chaetodermis pencilligera,
Tassled filefish,
Tasseled file fish,
Leafy file fish,
Prickly leatherjacket.
Search for any of these names will give not too much results, other than the few articles, a short store information and diver's photos. Here will be more than one page with most aspects of my tassled filefish life, illustrated. Feel free to add your article, photos or information through the Forum.
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Character
The best buddy - cute, shy and clumsy - Chaetodermis is described mostly in the terms of delightful oddity.
"Oddly-shaped fish often with dazzlingly cryptic patterns" [1], "fascinating fuzzy little creatures" [2], "a hardy curiosity of a fish" [3], "I fell in love with this fish because of its "oddity"" [4], "A gorgeous animal" [4], "definitely an incredible looking fish" [5].
Fish size
Fragile delicate glass-like perfection is of the size of the postal stamp (I mean the rhomboid decorative one), when you see it at the store.
The things, that came in mind after checking its requirements (I returned to the store next day to buy this fish), were: "Why not? The fish will grow to the size of tank, or in an year or two I could buy a big tank, this shouldn't cost too much..."
Not so, check the link for a cost of setup and keeping.
This fuzzy innocence had grown into robust hairy animal within half a year.
Tank size
In my experience, the 90g tank is an absolute minimum (I had it in 90g, and did all possible to free the swimming space, including removing LR into the sump), 200g is preferable, and in 300g with a small fish it would swim freely.
Territoriality
My tassle filefish doesn't defend the chosen place and doesn't attack the other fish, but:
it has a chosen place, prefers to feel free there, and expects the other, smaller fish to accept this, go away and find another place.
Unfortunately, lionfish goes where and when it wishes, and also expects the other fish to go away.
No attacks or harassment from either side, but expressively mutual inconvenience.
The Fuzzy file swims without paying attention to anything smaller around, and frequently goes directly onto lion's venomous spines, collision is avoided by either of them in the last possible moment. Lion takes defensive-warning pose: head down, long spines up front, like saying: "Don't push!". Always looks calm and strong minded.
I can understand the lion: while it allows the small fish, like toby puffer, half of his size, to do whatever they want, even swimming rounds over its head repeatedly, but the one thing is to have a fine bred Dutch dog, and totally another - a playful full-sized horse (Fuzzy) in its living room.
Next page: Compatibility