Alternative species (click on the thumbnail to see the card)
Names
Scientific name
Aluterus scriptus / scripta / renosus / venosus
Alutera armata / picturata
Aluteres pareva / personatus
Balistes laevis / liturosus / ornatus / scriptus
Monacanthus scriptus
Osbeckia scripta
Common name
Scrawled filefish
Broomtail filefish
Scribbled leatherjacket
Origin
Origin: Indo-Pacific, Caribbean
Natural habitat: found at depths of up to 60/80m (200/260 feet)
Dimorphism
None
Group
Monacanthidae
Volume
10000 L / 2200 Imp Gal / 2650 US Gal
Parameters
T°: 23 to 27°C to 73 to 81°F
pH: 8 to 8.3
Density: 1023 to 1025
Difficulty
Hard
Size
60 to 110cm (24 to 43")
Longevity
/
Living zone
Everywhere
Individuals
1
Food
Food
How to feed the Scrawled filefish?
It is a species of omnivorous fish. It is very difficult to feed. Its natural diet consists of algae but also invertebrates such as sponges, anemones, Hydraires, fire corals, tunicates... In aquariums, try to feed it this way and make contributions with live nereis, krill, mysis, artemia and mussel flesh. Seaweed (spirulina, nori), spinach and salad will also be appreciated. You will also have to sacrifice soft corals or anemones to be able to feed it properly.
It is very slow to feed. As a result, food competition is a real daily danger for it.
Behavior
Behavior
What kind of behavior does the Scrawled filefish have?
It is peaceful and is never aggressive, neither towards its fellow fish species nor towards other fish species. Even in the wild, it is a very shy fish. Most of the time, it lives alone (sometimes in pairs) swimming slowly along rocks.
It takes on a special coloration at night: light and dark vertical stripes come over its usual coloration, without erasing it completely.
The writing stock exchange often swims with its head down!
Cohabitation
Cohabitation
Who can live with the Scrawled filefish?
The cohabitation with all more vivid and voracious species is to be banished because of its difficult feeding. With the presence of such species, your lime fish can easily starve to death.
Breeding
Breeding
How to breed the Scrawled filefish?
Impossible in captivity. In the wild, it is done in groups, with one male for every several females. After laying, the brood is kept by one of the parents. Young Aluterus are yellow with black spots. Their blue coloration only appears during their growth.
Its aquarium
Its aquarium
Which aquarium for the Scrawled filefish?
Particularly fragile, this file fish is sensitive to variations in its water parameters (especially pH). An expert level in marine aquarium keeping is required!
Given its size, an aquarium of at least 10000 L / 2200 Imp Gal / 2650 US Gal is necessary for this gentle giant.
You understand that this species is by no means an aquarium fish. It is therefore impossible for private individuals to maintain them in this way: go to your nearest public aquarium to admire them!
Good To know
Good To know
Find all additional information!
It is a difficult species to maintain given its fragility and sensitivity to water parameters. An expert level in marine aquariophily is required!
It is the largest species of lime fish (or burrowing fish). Indeed, the average size is 60 cm, sometimes up to 110 cm for males.
Did you know that this fish can change colour at will? This is very useful for camouflaging itself in its surroundings, especially when it is resting.
Their name "lime fish" comes from their rough touching skin. In fact, in the past, its skin was dried to be used as sandpaper.
The Writing Exchange has small but very sharp teeth!
This fish causes a food poisoning called ciguatera when eaten (gastric, intestinal and neurological disorders).
Yours photos!
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