Oxymonacanthus longirostris aka long-nosed filefish. One of the fish people always ask about when they see my tank.
Well, I had him/her for 4 1/2 years, and it was likely full grown when I picked it up. I obtained it from Aqua Addicts back in April of 2004. It'd come in by mistake and it was looking REALLY thin when I picked it up. It fattened up well in my frag tank. The photo below was taken in my frag tank. I later moved it to my 110, and when everthing was transferred to my 400 G, the filefish went too. I tried to pair it up on two occasions with no luck (chased the new fish into hiding). The whole time I had it it never ate Anything other than coral polyps, Acropora, Pocillipora, and Hydnophora were it's favs, never ate any species of Montipora. Last week I'd noticed it looked a little thinner than usual, but there were still tons of coral for it to dine on. I also notice it was 'sleeping' earlier than usual. Normally about 30-60 minutes before lights out the fish would find a favorite spot to perch between branches of staghorn Acropora. It would 'lock' its top fin and crash out. Just before it died it was perching probably 1 hour earlier than usual.
I never found a body, but the 'tank' probably ate it.
Don't know what the lifespan is in the wild, but I don't think mine died prematurly due to the captive environment. No condolences necessary, but I thought people that'd seen the fish might like to know.
Well, I had him/her for 4 1/2 years, and it was likely full grown when I picked it up. I obtained it from Aqua Addicts back in April of 2004. It'd come in by mistake and it was looking REALLY thin when I picked it up. It fattened up well in my frag tank. The photo below was taken in my frag tank. I later moved it to my 110, and when everthing was transferred to my 400 G, the filefish went too. I tried to pair it up on two occasions with no luck (chased the new fish into hiding). The whole time I had it it never ate Anything other than coral polyps, Acropora, Pocillipora, and Hydnophora were it's favs, never ate any species of Montipora. Last week I'd noticed it looked a little thinner than usual, but there were still tons of coral for it to dine on. I also notice it was 'sleeping' earlier than usual. Normally about 30-60 minutes before lights out the fish would find a favorite spot to perch between branches of staghorn Acropora. It would 'lock' its top fin and crash out. Just before it died it was perching probably 1 hour earlier than usual.
I never found a body, but the 'tank' probably ate it.
Don't know what the lifespan is in the wild, but I don't think mine died prematurly due to the captive environment. No condolences necessary, but I thought people that'd seen the fish might like to know.
Well, geez, you certainly gave him a good life in that tank, that's for sure, acros galore!
