Bristletail filefish

The bristletail filefish is a small reef fish in the family Monacanthidae, found across the Indo-Pacific. It has a rounded, laterally compressed body with mottled brown, green, and cream coloration that it can shift to blend with its surroundings, plus a small first dorsal spine and rough tail bristles in males. It is a slow-moving, generally peaceful fish, though it can nip at sessile invertebrates. It is often kept singly or as a pair. It is notable in the reef hobby for eating Aiptasia anemones, making it a natural pest-control option, though results vary by individual. It should be kept in an established tank with plenty of grazing surfaces and offered a varied diet of meaty and prepared foods. Care is moderate; caution is needed in reefs with prized corals or polyps it may sample.