Redtail Filefish

Redtail Filefish

With its orange to red colored body and gray to black shaded head, the Redtail Filefish makes a captivating addition to a tank. It features 1-2 dorsal spines, 30-33 dorsal soft rays but no anal spines, instead there are 27-30 anal soft rays that makes it unique and beautiful. The Redtail Filefish is a shy fish and hardly turns aggressive towards other fishes except for those of its own genus. It is best to keep it in a tank of 30 gallon along with plenty of swimming space. The Redtail Filefish also needs lot of hiding place in the aquarium, so that it can hide when frightened. It thrives well in a temperature range of 73-84 degrees Fahrenheit and pH of 8.2-8.4. The Redtail Filefish might turn aggressive towards other filefish and should be kept singly or in truly mated pair. Its diet should include shaved shrimp, squid, scallop, mysis shrimp, and especially vitamin enriched foods that help in maintaining the color of the body. The Redtail Filefish is commonly referred to as the blackheaded filefish and is generally not reef safe and will pick at corals, polyps, crabs and other invertebrates. It is best to keep it in a peaceful, fish-only community aquarium