Aluterus monoceros

Download Reef App on Google Play or App Store
Get it on Google Play Get it on App Store
Facts
Latin name Aluterus monoceros
Local name Unicorn leatherjacket filefish
Family Monacanthidae - Aluterus
Origin East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, Australia, Japan, The Red Sea, The Mexican Golf, West Atlantic, Indonesia, Mediterranean Sea, East Pacific, New Zealand, Central/West Pacific
Max length 76 cm (29.9")
As aquarium fish
Minimum volume 10000 l (2639 gal)
Hardiness Unknown
Suitable for aquarium Not suitable for home aquarium
Reef safe Not reef safe
Aggressiveness Unknown
Feed
Mostly Detritus
Larger crustaceans (Shrimp, crabs...)
Macroalgea (Eg. seaweed / nori)
Microalgea (Eg. spirulina)
Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...)
Soft coral
Beware of
Insufficient information

There is little available knowledge of this species, so there can be important information missing on this page.

Descriptions and further reading
Family description (Monacanthidae)

Filefish (Monacanthidae) have a very characteristic appearance, but whether one likes them or not is a matter of taste. 

Some species are suitable for aquaria, although they will occasionally eat a coral or invertebrate. They are therefore not so well suited to coral tanks.
They are often used to fight glass anemones (Aiptasia) and Majano anemones. Pervagor nigrolineatus is especially good at this.

They need peace and quiet from both the aquarist and other fish, when adjusting to the tank life.

Be careful when catching them, as they easily becomes caught in the net.

References and further reading

About references

Dave Wolfenden. 2013. Filefish: A bit of rough! - Practical Fishkeeping - (English)
Scott W. Michael. Can You Add Filefish to a Reef Tank? - Fish Channel - (English)
Bob Fenner. Filefishes, Family Monacanthidae, Part I, Part II, Part III - Wet Web Media - (English)
Scott W. Michael. Those Fabulous Filefish - Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine - (English)