Horseshoe filefish (Meuschenia hippocrepis) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Family
Monacanthidae (filefishes and leatherjackets)
Origin
Southern Australia (temperate waters)
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
51 cm
Temperature
16–22°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Minimum tank
600 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Reef safe
no

Care

A large, boldly marked filefish with a horseshoe-shaped mark on its side. It comes from cooler southern Australian waters, so the temperatures here are general guidance for temperate marine species and a chiller may be needed. Give it a large tank with rockwork and open swimming space. Wikipedia article not checked for this entry; details are from the list and general marine husbandry. Water figures here are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific: 16–22 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, salinity SG 1.023–1.026. Minimum tank size of about 600 litres is our estimate from the adult size and habits, not a published figure. Selling: our policies require the adult size and long-term tank needs to be stated clearly in the listing. Large fish must travel by a specialist live-animal courier (see the Livestock shipping guide). Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Offer a varied diet of meaty frozen foods (mysis, chopped shellfish, krill) and algae-based foods.

Breeding

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

Compatibility and tank mates

Not reef safe: it will pick at invertebrates and corals. Keep with robust fish of similar size in a fish-only tank.

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

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