Found in waters around Japan and south to Taiwan, the Whitespotted Pygmy Filefish typically resides in temperate areas surrounded by macroalgeaes and sea grass beds. They have the ability to adjust their coloration and patterns depending on their surroundings. These little fish produce rather large nests, but the eggs and larvae are extremely small. Newly hatched prolarvae measure just 1.6mm. Despite their small size, Whitespotted Pygmy Filefish are hardy and fast growing.
Whitespotted Pygmy Filefish readily accept a variety of foods, including frozen and pelleted diets. ORA maintains a small group of them in a tank with hard and soft corals and didn’t observe any nipping, suggesting they fishes may be reef safe.