Blacksaddle (Mimic) Filefish

About this fish

Blacksaddle (Mimic) Filefish is a marine filefish sold under the shop name “Blacksaddle (Mimic) Filefish,” identified as Paraluteres prionurus. It’s known for its puffer-like appearance and is typically kept for a peaceful, watchable bottom-to-midwater grazing/feeding style in a well-established aquarium.

Features:

• Moderate care level and generally peaceful temperament toward other fish
• Best maintained in a fish-only setup; saltcorner notes it is not reef tank suitable and advises against keeping it with many invertebrates
• Designed to mimic pufferfish behavior/appearance, making it a distinctive conversation piece in a community tank of compatible fish
• Takes a varied diet when conditioned; expect frequent feedings to support ongoing health
• Slow-moving and shy—benefits from calm conditions and peaceful tankmates
• Often needs target feeding in aquariums if natural live foods are not readily available

Specifications:

• Scientific name (verified): Paraluteres prionurus
• Care level: Moderate (LiveAquaria); Intermediate experience level (Saltcorner)
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Temperament note: May be rarely aggressive toward other fish except those of its own genus (LiveAquaria)
• Recommended aquarium setup: Fish-only preferred; reef compatibility with caution / not reef tank suitable (LiveAquaria and Saltcorner)
• Minimum tank size: 30 gallons (LiveAquaria; Saltcorner)
• Diet: Omnivore; target feed chopped/frozen meaty foods (e.g., mysis/shrimp/scallops/squid/clams) plus algae-based foods (Saltcorner); variety such as shrimp, squid, scallop, mysis, vitamin-soaked freeze-dried krill, and frozen marine algae (LiveAquaria)
• Feeding frequency: At least 3 times per day (LiveAquaria); Saltcorner notes twice daily meat feeding and overall three times daily
• Adult size: Up to about 4–4.5 in (10–11.5 cm) (Saltcorner and LiveAquaria)
• Temperature: 72–78°F (LiveAquaria); 72–82°F (Saltcorner)
• Specific gravity: 1.020–1.025 (LiveAquaria; Saltcorner)
• pH: 8.1–8.4 (LiveAquaria); 8.0–8.5 (Saltcorner)
• Alkalinity (dKH): 8–12 dKH (LiveAquaria)