Filefish

Filefish Care Guide: Tank, Food, Habitat for a Happy, Healthy Pet

Members of the Balistidae family, Filefish are closely related to triggerfish. They have rough scales and tiny mouths. The first of their two dorsal fins is a spine that can be locked in place. Recommended for more experienced marine aquarists.

Updated on April 9th, 2026

Advanced Boxfish & Cowfish Care: Ultimate Tank Setup, Food, & Safety

Learn how to care for Boxfish & Cowfish, recommended diet and aquarium setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.

Updated on April 9th, 2026

Triggerfish Care: Tank, Diet, & Compatibility for Aggressive Fish

Learn how to take care of triggerfish, recommended diet and tank setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.

Updated on April 9th, 2026

Essential Large Marine Fish Care Guide: Tank Setup, Diet, & Tank Mates

Learn how to care for large marine fish, recommended diet and habitat setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.

Updated on April 9th, 2026

Foxface & Rabbitfish Care: Tank, Food, Compatibility, & Venomous Spines

Learn how to care for Foxface fish & Rabbitfish, recommended diet and aquarium setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.

Updated on April 9th, 2026

What are easy, small pets for beginners? Is a cowfish a good choice?

The Cowfish, or Longhorned Boxfish, is a marine species that should be kept only by experienced aquarists. When stressed, they can release toxins into the water which may harm tank mates. Pacman frogs, leopard geckos, corn snakes or bearded dragons are all easy to keep.

My fish have growths, tattered fins, and are flashing. What's wrong?

Thanks for reaching out about your aquarium and including photos. Did you test your water quality prior to the water change? Continue to test for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Pristine water quality is needed for health. Are any of the fish new, that could have introduced parasites? Itching/flashing can be due to water quality, external parasites, bacterial or viral infections and other causes. The white lesions on the photo could be fungal infections. A skin scrape and examination under the microscope (at a veterinarian's office) is needed for an attempt to determine a cause. Fungal infections are often secondary problems, so check water quality first. Good luck.

What fish and supplies are best for a beginner's small tank?

Without anything to use for scale, it is hard for me to tell how big your tank is, but in general it seems very small. Also, the water that is in the tank appears very cloudy right now, so that would be the first place to start. Water quality is very important, and will make or break your ability to house and care for fish. I would recommend getting a good filter system (you can visit a local pet store to assist you with brands in your area, as I am not familiar with what you can get in India). Be sure to bring the measurements (height, length, width) of your tank, or the gallons or liters so they can tell you what capacity of filter you will need. Everything else will depend on what types of fish you get - if you plan on getting multiple fish, they will need to be small - a general rule of thumb is one square inch of fish per gallon of water. Depending on the species you get, you may need to also get a bubbler to ensure there is enough oxygen in the water for them, and you will also

My yellow fish has blue eyes & stays at the top. What is it?

The fish that you are describing is Apolcheilus lineatus commonly known as the Golden Wonder Killifish. By looking at the images that were attached it appears to be a male (females are typically less colorful ).

Fish sick after vacation feeder, not eating, breathing fast. What now?

Check the water chemistry. Confirm ammonia and nitrite levels are 0.25ppm or less and nitrates are 40ppm or less. Use a liquid test kit or submit a sample for testing. Most pet stores or aquarists will do this for free or for a small fee. Partial water changes, about 30% can be done to decrease high levels. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. My preferences for water conditioning are AmQuel Plus and NovAqua in addition to StressCoat. Confirm water temperature between 78F and 80F. You can soak pellets in some garlic juice to stimulate his appetite.