Fantail orange filefish (Pervagor spilosoma) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Fantail filefish, ʻŌʻili
Family
Monacanthidae (filefishes)
Origin
Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Island; coral and rocky reefs, rubble and sand
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
18 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.020–1.025
Minimum tank
285 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Reef safe
no

Care

A yellow-orange filefish with dark spots and an orange tail, rare in the trade. It is timid at first and needs good hiding places. Wikipedia suggests a tank of 75 US gallons or more (about 285 litres) and SG 1.020–1.025; temperature and pH here are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern. Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pervagorspilosoma). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Eats mainly algae and small bottom-living animals such as tubeworms and small crustaceans. Offer algae-based foods alongside meaty frozen foods.

Breeding

Breeding in home aquaria has not been reported in the sources used here.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not reef safe: it eats many invertebrates. Rarely aggressive to other species but often aggressive to its own kind and similar filefish; keep one per tank.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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