Tassel Filefish (Chaetodermis pencilligerus).
The tassle filefish is a ray-finned fish known by several other names due to its appendages and projections on its body. It is known as the leafy filefish, tasselled leatherjacket, and the prickly leatherjacket because of its dermal appendages and its sandpapery skin. These features are useful for camouflaging to avoid predators. It is the most peculiar-looking fish that is found in the marine waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Within these waters, it inhabits sandy bottoms, weeds, reefs, and corals in the neritic zone up to depths of 147 ft (45 m). The tassle filefish lives for close to five years and feeds mainly on algae and invertebrates. Because of its striking appearance adorned with dark horizontal stripes and peaceful demeanor, the tassle filefish makes for a popular domestic fish. It is often found in public aquariums and personal fish tanks. It is not a reef-safe fish, but it is not known to bother fish tank mates. The Conservation Status of the leafy filefish is of Least Concern according to the IUCN, and its population trends are stable as well.
What type of animal is a Tassle Filefish?
The tassle filefish (Chaetodermis penicilligerus) is a fish.
What class of animal does a Tassle Filefish belong to?
The tassle filefish (Chaetodermis penicilligerus) species belongs to the 'Actinopterygii' (ray-finned fish) class of animals.
How many Tassle Filefish are there in the world?
The exact numbers of the tassle filefish or prickly leatherjacket species in the world are unknown, but its population trend is stable.
Where does a Tassle Filefish live?
The tassle filefish (or prickly leatherjacket) is endemic to the tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean and the eastern Indian Ocean. In the Indo-Pacific waters, it is found in the countries in Asia, Australia, and Oceania. More specifically, it is found most prominently in the countries or adjacent waters of Cambodia, Indonesia, Australia, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, New Guinea, and India.
What is a Tassle Filefish's habitat?
In the Indian and Pacific Ocean habitats, the tassle filefish (or prickly leatherjacket) lives among the weeds, reefs, and corals. It does not live far from the surface, usually until depths of only 147 ft (45 m). Tassle filefish like to live close to the sandy bottoms of the Indo-Pacific waters in the Neritic zone.
Whom do Tassle Filefish live with?
Tassle filefish (or prickly leatherjacket) are creatures of solitude, meaning they mostly live alone.
How long does a Tassle Filefish live?
Tassle filefish (or prickly leatherjacket) may live close to five years.
How do they reproduce?
Tassle filefish (or prickly leatherjacket) reproduce via external fertilization and laying eggs. The eggs are laid by the female in a sheltered location in the preferred habitat. The eggs are then examined and fertilized by the male.
What is their conservation status?
The Conservation Status of the tassle filefish (or prickly leatherjacket) is Least Concern according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
How do they communicate?
Being a ray-finned species of fish, tassle filefish may communicate with their surroundings via vision, chemical reception(pheromones), tactile reception (touch), and smell. They're even capable of using electroreception to detect prey, wherein they can detect the vital signals of other fish. These filefish also use camouflage thanks to their dermal appendages to hide from predators like sharks, tuna, and dolphinfish themselves.
How fast can a Tassle Filefish swim?
The exact speeds that a tassle filefish can swim at are unknown, but being a small fish, its swimming speed can be assumed to be around 3.7 mph (6 kph).
How much does a Tassle Filefish weigh?
A Tassle Filefish weighs around 0.8-1.5 lb (0.4-0.7 kg).
What are the male and female names of the species?
The male and female of the tassle filefish species do not have specific names.
What would you call a baby Tassle Filefish?
A baby tassle filefish would be called a fry.
What do they eat?
Tassle filefish eat algae, mollusks, crustaceans, annelids, polyps, see weeds, other invertebrates in the wild. In domestic and captive settings, they can be fed twice or thrice with a diet of meaty foods that includes chopped shrimp, squid, clams, fish, and frozen algae, and vitamin-enriched foodstuff.
Are they dangerous?
No, tassle filefish are not dangerous at all. They even tend not to bother fish-tank mates.
Would they make a good pet?
Yes, tassle filefish make amazing pets. They are remarkable-looking, and they don't tend to bother fish-tank mates either. They are a very peaceful species when captive. They are easy to feed and like hiding in places. Apart from the diet of meaty foods, they will sometimes eat aiptasia as well, which is an anemone that may harm a coral as well as fish and overruns an entire tank. They can easily survive on chopped shrimp, squid, clams, fish, and frozen algae, and vitamin-enriched foodstuff.
Although it may tend to interact with others of its own family. Important to not keep them with fish that may harass them like triggers and puffers, as they may likely bother their tassles.
Did you know...
Although the leafy filefish is camouflaged by its natural appearance, it may sometimes blend in with different habitats by changing colors slightly.
Do all filefish eat Aiptasia?
No, not all Filefish species eat Aiptasia, the annoying anemone that overtakes tanks and harm fish and corals. There is a specific species of fish called 'the Aiptasia eating fish' or the 'bristletail filefish' which are known for eating Aiptasia. Tassle filefish (or leafy filefish or prickly leatherjacket) species is also sometimes known to eat this cumbersome anemone.
Are Tassle Filefish reef safe?
No, tassle filefish (or leafy filefish or prickly leatherjacket) are not reef safe. They will not bother a coral, but since invertebrates are in their natural diet, they will eat them.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fishes from our black neon tetra fun facts for kids or the tench surprising facts pages.
You can occupy yourself at home by coloring in our free printable tassle filefish coloring pages.
