Oxymonacanthus longirostris

(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Orange Spotted Filefish, Harlequin Filefish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa south to Mozambique, north to Southern Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coral rich areas in protected lagoons and usually found at depths between 3 – 30 feet (1 – 10 m) where it feeds upon stony corals.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, and having a pale blue body with numerous yellow spots.

Best maintained in aquariums containing sufficient Acropora corals for it to dine on!

Slow moving, and does not do well in aquariums with swift water movement. Requires peaceful tankmates, e.g., non fin-nipping species, as this is a slow moving and very shy species.

As to diet, must have stony corals such as various live species of Acropora to survive.

Taxonomy:

Order: Tetraodontiformes

Suborder: Tetraodontoidei

Family: Monacanthidae

Genus: Oxymonacanthus

FYI: Nice looking, however, does not live very long in captivity!

One per aquarium.

May eat Aiptasia anemones.

Not safe with small crustaceans, snails, and crabs.

Best left in the wild.

Experience Level: Professional

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: No

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 60 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5