🐠 Radial Filefish (Acreichthys radiatus)
A Charming Nano Filefish • Constantly Rotating Eyes and Rapid Colour Change • A Xenia Mimic
 
📋 The Radial Filefish, also known as the Radial Leatherjacket, has a silvery-white body covered in dark brown-to-greenish radiating striations, with large, constantly rotating eyes that actively track food, predators, and even its keeper outside the tank. It's native to the Western Pacific, from northern Australia to the Ryukyu Islands and Indonesia through to New Caledonia, where it lives among soft coral colonies.
A remarkable natural adaptation defines this species: it closely mimics the colour and pattern of pulsing Xenia coral, using it as a protective home in a relationship reminiscent of clownfish and anemones, and it can shift its colouring and pattern within seconds depending on mood and environment. Juveniles have a charming habit of biting onto the sides of the tank or nearby algae to stabilise themselves while sleeping at night. It remains small, reaching only around 7cm, and it's peaceful, shy, and best kept with other calm tankmates.
We suggest watching it closely in a reef: it often leaves corals alone, but filefish in general may pick at benthic invertebrates or corals. We'd recommend cautious observation in a reef setting.
 
💡 Highlights
🎨 Silvery Body With Radiating Striations: A distinctive, charming nano filefish
🪸 Xenia Mimicry: Closely resembles pulsing Xenia coral for protection
🎭 Rapid Colour Change: Can shift pattern and colouring within seconds
😴 Charming Sleep Behaviour: Juveniles bite onto tank surfaces to stabilise while sleeping
🌿 Reef Safe With Caution: Watch it closely in a reef tank