Care
This boldly coloured filefish strongly mimics the poisonous Valentini Pufferfish (Canthigaster valentini). So close is the resemblance, many fish give it the same wide berth. In the wild, they inhabit clear lagoons and seawards reefs to about 25 metres in depth. Juveniles are often seen in small groups, whereas adult fish are usually found in pairs.
Compared to many other larger filefish, this species is rather less destructive, but much caution is advised if planning on adding to a reef setting; these fish will pick on most sessile invertebrates with the exception of potent stinging sea anemones such as Stichodactyla spp. (carpet anemones). Snails, shrimp, gorgonians, and sponges are particularly vulnerable. Therefore, this hardy species really is best housed in a tank containing live rock only. Saddled Filefish are generally quite passive and docile, especially when first introduced, and should only be kept with tankmates of a similar size and disposition. It should never be kept in the same tank as its model pufferfish, as the filefish will very likely be bullied. Keep one per tank unless a mated pair can be acquired.
In order to tell the Mimic filefish apart from the Valentini Pufferfish, look for the following: the first transverse bar extends further behind the eye in C. valentini; the second transverse bar courses ventrally between the gill opening and pectoral fin base in C. valentini and behind the pectoral fin in P. prionurus; the dark spots between and below the transverse bars are larger and less numerous in P. prionurus; and very large adult P. prionurus specimens often have a dark spot on the middle of the lower part of the cheek, but no such spot is present in C. valentini. Perhaps the most obvious difference, when viewed at close quarters, is the long dorsal fin/s of the filefish compared to that of the pufferfish (P. prionurus has 26-28 soft dorsal fin rays vs. 9-10 in C. valentini).
Feeding
Offer a varied diet for omnivores. Meaty items should include krill, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, finely chopped cockle/ mussel/ prawns/ squid/ fish/clam meat etc, and herbivore rations such Nori, marine algae, vegetable matter etc. Feed small amounts 3 times per day.
Breeding
This species has not been bred in the home aquarium.
